Ottawa– The Hindu Canadian Foundation (HCF) has strongly denounced recent anti-Hindu rhetoric by Khalistani extremists, including a call to expel 800,000 Hindus from Canada. The inflammatory message was delivered during Nagar Kirtan parades held over the weekend in Malton and Etobicoke, with the Malton Gurdwara in Toronto serving as the focal point.
A widely circulated video from the event shows a parade float featuring a replica of a prison cell, with effigies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inside. The HCF condemned the parade as a misuse of a religious gathering for political provocation, saying the incident spreads division and hatred against Hindu Canadians.
“The silence of many political leaders in response to such hateful remarks must be seen as implicit consent,” the HCF said in a statement. “It is the responsibility of Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament—regardless of party—to speak out against this divisiveness and uphold Canada’s values of religious harmony and inclusivity.”
The organization emphasized that Nagar Kirtan, a Sikh religious procession, is traditionally meant to unite people of all backgrounds, reflecting the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. “It should never be misappropriated to promote exclusionary rhetoric,” the group stated.
The Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce also issued a strong condemnation, highlighting the dangers of the rhetoric used during the event. “With over 800,000 Hindus and more than 1.86 million Indo-Canadians in Canada, these calls for expulsion are deeply concerning. History shows that such dangerous language can lead to catastrophic consequences. This must be firmly rejected by all leaders.”
The incident is the latest in a string of troubling developments linked to Khalistani extremism in Canada. Last month, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Surrey was defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti—the third such attack on the same temple in recent years.
Former Canadian MP Chandra Arya responded to the Surrey incident in a post on X, warning of the growing influence of Khalistani elements. “These attacks on Hindu temples are not isolated. They reflect an alarming trend backed by organized, well-funded, and politically connected groups that are silencing Hindu voices across Canada,” Arya wrote.
He also pointed to vandalism at Vancouver’s Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara on Ross Street, where slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” were spray-painted. In response, the Gurdwara management condemned the act as part of a wider campaign by extremists seeking to divide the Sikh community and intimidate others.
Arya called on both Hindu and Sikh Canadians to unite against this rising extremism. “It is time for Hindu Canadians, alongside the vast majority of our Sikh-Canadian brothers and sisters, to demand urgent and decisive action from all levels of government. Silence is no longer an option,” he said.
Community leaders are urging Canadian authorities to take immediate steps to address the growing threat of sectarian extremism and protect the nation’s long-standing values of multiculturalism and religious coexistence. (Source: IANS)
