Canadian MP Chandra Arya on Thursday urged Hindu Canadians to remain calm but vigilant after Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun asked the community to leave Canada and return to India.
In a video message, Arya said Pannun was trying to provoke the community and divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada. He also urged the Hindu-Canadian community to report any incident of Hinduphobia to local law enforcement agencies.
“Few days back Khalistan movement leader in Canada and the president of Sikhs for Justice which organises the so-called referendum, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun attacked Hindu-Canadians asking us to leave Canada and go back to India. I have heard from many Hindu-Canadians who are fearful after this targeted attack. I urge Hindu-Canadians to stay calm but vigilant,” Arya said.
“The Khalistan movement leader is trying to provoke the Hindu-Canadians to react and divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada. Let me be clear. Vast majority of our Canadian Sikh brothers and sisters do not support the Khalistan movement,” he added.
“Most Sikh Canadians may not publicly condemn the Khalistan movement for several reasons but they are deeply connected to the Hindu-Canadian community...I can’t understand how glorification of terrorism or a hate crime targeting a religious group is allowed in the name of freedom of speech and expression,” Chandra said.
The development comes amid diplomatic row between India and Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged New Delhi for the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year. In an exclusive interview with ABP News, Pannun also blamed Indian agencies for Nijjar’s killing and denied any ties with Pakistan’s ISI.