“Many Indo-Canadians come from farming families, and are concerned by the impact the new farm laws will have on their families’ livelihoods. Equally, they are concerned by the government’s use of water cannons on the protestors, and the refusal of the political leadership to hear their demands. Prime Minister Trudeau may well have been motivated by his desire to keep the support of Indo-Canadians, but this is normal in the operation of democracy,” a Group of progressive South Asian community organizations said in a press release. “Given the Ambassadors’ concern over fundamentalism and extremism, we would like to draw their attention to the growing presence in Canada of Hindu supremacist organizations that propagate an extremist, upper-caste, anti-minority, and patriarchal religious ideology. Individuals affiliated with these organizations operate with impunity in mainstream institutions, inviting elected officials in Canada to events hosting speakers from India who are known to have fomented and even organized violence against minority communities, democratic rights activists, and critics of the current Indian government. These organizations are bent on destroying Indian democracy. Willthe Ambassadors take cognizance of the activities of these organizations and individuals and identify their financial and organizational contribution to the growing scourge of Hindu supremacist terror in India?”

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VANCOUVER – A Group of progressive South Asian community organizations are calling out India and it’s treatment of protesting farmers, who are fight unjust agricultural laws in India.

Replying to recent rebukes by India’s government agents of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who stood up for the farmers, and ludicrously blaming Sikh independence movement Khalistan, the organizations called Indian Ambassadors group’s sabre-rattling response “undiplomatic” and “tendentious”.

“As organizations representing Canadians with strong ties to India, we read with dismay and alarm the Indian Ambassadors’ group’s sabre-rattling and tendentious response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s mild statement of support for Indian farmers opposing the new laws affecting agriculture (https://thewire.in/world/open-letter-indian-ambassadors-group-vote-bank-politics-canada),” the Group said in a press release.

“Not only is the response undiplomatic, seeking as it does to cause unnecessary controversy, it is also dangerous for India. The response seeks to tar an entirely legitimate and strong demonstration of farmers’ opposition to the government’s bills with the brush of extremism and terrorism. The Ambassadors falsely accuse the protestors of harbouring sympathies for the cause of Khalistan or Sikh separatism.  In doing so, they are employing the standard tactic of the present Indian government to attempt to discredit every genuine democratic mobilization, based on genuine grievances, with labels such as “anti-national,” “separatist,” “Urban Naxal,” etc. Needless to say, the organized violence, including lynchings, carried out by Hindu supremacist groups allied to the ruling party are never characterised as such. 

“The simple fact is that the protesting farmers are from diverse faiths and from the length and breadth of India, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. In fact a week ago there was an India-wide strike in support of the farmers. The new farm laws threaten their livelihoods and promise to deepen the corporatization of agriculture, already in deep crisis, as evidenced by the growing numbers of farmer suicides every year (over 10,000 just last year alone).

“The farmers are within their rights to protest and the Canadian prime minister has sought to support these rights. To say, however, that “encouraged by the Canadian support, the protestors have hardened their stance,” is an insult to the millions of farmers across India who have put their lives on the line to protest. Surely it is the depth of their opposition to the laws, the strength they gather from their numbers, and the growing support from ordinary people across India that is giving them the courage to hold firm. 

“Many Indo-Canadians come from farming families, and are concerned by the impact the new farm laws will have on their families’ livelihoods. Equally, they are concerned by the government’s use of water cannons on the protestors, and the refusal of the political leadership to hear their demands. Prime Minister Trudeau may well have been motivated by his desire to keep the support of Indo-Canadians, but this is normal in the operation of democracy.  

“The Ambassadors opportunistically target the Canadian government for its forceful quashing of Indigenous protests over the gas pipelines and land rights and its abysmal neglect of basic needs provision on Indigenous territories. We have consistently supported Indigenous demands, and call on leaders elsewhere to speak up for the Indigenous nations of Canada in their claims against the Canadian government at all times, not just when it is opportune. 

“Finally, given the Ambassadors’ concern over fundamentalism and extremism, we would like to draw their attention to the growing presence in Canada of Hindu supremacist organizations that propagate an extremist, upper-caste, anti-minority, and patriarchal religious ideology. Individuals affiliated with these organizations operate with impunity in mainstream institutions, inviting elected officials in Canada to events hosting speakers from India who are known to have fomented and even organized violence against minority communities, democratic rights activists, and critics of the current Indian government. These organizations are bent on destroying Indian democracy. Willthe Ambassadors take cognizance of the activities of these organizations and individuals and identify their financial and organizational contribution to the growing scourge of Hindu supremacist terror in India?”

Centre for Study and Research in South Asia (CERAS)

Democracy Equality and Secularism in South Asia, Winnipeg

Gursharan Singh Memorial Lecture Committee, Vancouver

Indian Civil Watch-Canada

South Asian Dalit Adivasi Network (SADAN)

South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD)

The Punjabi Literary and Cultural Association, Winnipeg.