Ravi Hooda, a Toronto realtor and immigration consultant, is the latest in a growing anti-Muslim propaganda by Hindutava forces in India which is slowly seeping into foreign lands like Canada. Recently, several Indian nationals living in Arab countries were fired from their jobs for displaying and portraying Islamophobia through social media. And now Canada has followed suit by removing Hooda from his job and terminating his contract with one of the leading real estate companies in the North America.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

TORONTO – Hindutava forces in Canada continue to show their ugly side by openly airing anti-Muslim or anti-Sikh views but the latest one to do so was fired by the real estate company he worked with in the Toronto suburb of Brampton.

The Islamophobe has been identified as Ravi Hooda, who was also a member of ‘School Council Chair’ in Peel District School in Brampton. He’s also been let go from that post after he went on anti-Muslim rant over the city’s decision to allow all faiths to air prayers through loud speakers following up on a 1984 bylaw that allowed Church bells to ring for five minutes a day.

Hooda is the latest in a growing anti-Muslim propaganda by Hindutava forces in India which is slowly seeping into foreign lands like Canada. Recently, several Indian nationals living in Arab countries were fired from their jobs for displaying and portraying Islamophobia through social media.
And now Canada has followed suit by removing Hooda from his job and terminating his contract with one of the leading real estate companies in the North America.

Recently, Brampton was among several Toronto municipalities which granted permissions to local mosques to call for prayer (azaan) on loudspeakers during Ramzan. This move by the municipalities were widely appreciated by Canadian Muslims as they cannot gather in mosques due to Novel Coronavirus outbreak.

But an ignorant Hooda couldn’t fathom it and posted a tirade mocking Muslims and their faith. He wrote, “What’s next? Separate lanes for camel & goat riders, allowing slaughter of animals at home in the name of sacrifice, bylaw requiring all women to cover themselves from head to toe in tents to appease the piece fools for votes.”

Btu both a corporate entity, ReMax Realty and a government body, the Peel District School Board let it be known that racism and bigotry will not be tolerated in Canada.

Peel District School Board in Brampton immediately announced that it had removed Hooda as ‘School Council Chair’ and investigation was underway against him.

“The Principal has begun an investigation. The individual is being removed from their role as School Council Chair and won’t be able to participate on council in any other capacity. Islamophobia is not acceptable and a clear violation of our Safe and Accepting Schools Policy”, tweeted the school.

In a letter posted online, Macville school principal Robin Perri wrote, "Today, we were made aware of a disturbing, Islamophobic tweet that was written and shared by a member of our parent community. We immediately conducted an investigation into the matter." Perri said the content contravened its Safe and Accepting Schools Policy.

Hooda claimed his tweet was misinterpreted. He claimed he removed his tweet and immediately put out another one apologizing "unconditionally," but that the action hasn't made much difference.

The move from the school board comes as it works to respond to a scathing ministerial review into racism within the board, focusing in particular on anti-Black racism along with concerns about Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, homophobia and overrepresentation of Indigenous students when it comes to suspensions.

"The accounts of systemic racism and discrimination documented in the report are deeply troubling and will not be tolerated," Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in March. 

ReMax too immediately terminated Hooda’s contract.

“We do not share nor support the views of Mr. Hooda. We can confirm he has been terminated and is no longer affiliated with RE/MAX. Multiculturalism & diversity are some of the best qualities in our communities, and we are committed to upholding these values in all that we do”, ReMax tweeted.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown also condemned Ravi Hooda’s post and views and said Canada will not tolerate Islamophobia.

“Our noise by law originally passed in 1984 only included an exemption for Church bells. It will now include all faiths within the permitted hours & decibel levels. The Muslim community can proceed with the sunset azan because it’s 2020 & we treat all faiths equally. #Ramadan”, he tweeted.

At a weekly briefing Wednesday, Brampton's mayor voiced his support for the actions taken by the Peel school board and Remax Canada.

"Some people feel that a manner in which they would never conduct themselves in person, that somehow you're allowed to spew hate over social media," said Brown.

"There are consequences for preaching hate. That's not who we are in Canada."