Canadian Hindu, Civil Liberties Groups Urge Government to Allow RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Visit
Washington — More than 100 Canadian Hindu and civil liberties organizations have urged Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to allow Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat to visit Canada, rejecting calls to declare him inadmissible.
In a joint letter to Carney and three senior ministers, the groups said any immigration or public-safety decision involving Bhagwat should be based on credible evidence and due process rather than political pressure.
The letter was also sent to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand.
It follows calls from New Democratic Party lawmakers Jenny Kwan and Heather McPherson, along with several organizations, urging the Canadian government to prevent Bhagwat from entering the country.
The signatories said Bhagwat’s proposed visit is important to Canada’s Hindu community, which they said numbers more than one million people. They described the RSS as a major Indian organization involved in community service, cultural activities, social initiatives and public discourse.
“Such a step would raise serious questions about evidence, due process, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and equal treatment under Canadian law,” the letter said of efforts to bar Bhagwat.
According to the signatories, critics of the visit have accused Bhagwat of hate speech, advocating violence against religious minorities, targeted intimidation and associations with criminal or listed terrorist organizations.
“These are exceptionally serious allegations. They should not be treated as political rhetoric or established as fact without clear, credible and independently verifiable evidence,” the letter said.
The groups called on lawmakers and organizations opposing the visit to provide evidence supporting their claims and said any such material should be assessed through established Canadian legal and governmental processes.
They also challenged assertions that Bhagwat’s presence could cause social disorder or pose a threat to Canadians.
“Canada’s immigration and public-safety decisions must be based on established law, credible evidence and due process—not speculation and political rhetoric,” the letter said.
The organizations said political disagreement, peaceful protest and criticism of religious, cultural or political leaders are legitimate, but argued that excluding a visiting leader based on unproven allegations could raise concerns about pluralism and equal treatment.
“Many Canadian Hindus may understandably perceive the campaign against Mr. Bhagwat as reflecting anti-Hindu prejudice or Hinduphobia,” the letter said.
The letter lists 101 organizations, including the Canada India Foundation, Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, VHP Canada, BAPS INC, Hindu Sikh Unity Forum Canada and several temples and regional community groups.
The RSS was founded in India in 1925 and has developed into a large volunteer organization with affiliated groups involved in social, cultural and public life. Bhagwat has served as its Sarsanghchalak, or chief, since 2009. (Source: IANS)
