What Canadian PR holders think of current turmoil: ‘Bid to shift focus from real issues, attempt to woo Sikh voters’

Dr Hardeep Singh Atwal
Ontario
Writer and social activist

The present tension between India and Canada after the murder of a Canadian citizen is not favourable for peace or progress. The current scenario has put a spotlight on freedom of speech, the policy to fight terrorism, and the sovereign rights of a country. There are set rules of laws at national as well at international levels. No government institution is above those laws. Any government of a democratic country should respect democracy, human rights and autonomy of another country. In today’s setup, we can not justify the murder of a citizen merely cause he had a viewpoint that was different from that of the government in power. We cannot fight individual terrorism with state-sponsored terrorism and un-lawful means. The Canadian Prime Minister alleged direct hand of Indian agencies in the murder of Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. If these allegations are true, then citizens of both countries should condemn this undemocratic, unlawful , inhuman act of Indian government.

Balwinder Barnala
Brampton
Vice president, Tarksheel (Rationalist) Society Canada

Ties between India and Canada have nosedived owing to the killing of a Sikh radical leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on Canadian soil in June this year. Nijjar was a citizen of Canada when he was gunned down in Surrey, Vancouver. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in the Parliament, has alleged the hand of Indian agencies in the murder. Such situations used to take place during the era of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Later, the relationship between the two countries normalised. We expect ties to normalise in this case also within a few months. Most of the Indian people residing permanently in Canada are from Punjab. Among them, a very very minor chunk believes in the idea of Khalistan. In recent time, some people have been blacklisted by the Indian government for being involved in Khalistani activities. However, this didn’t impact trade or tourists and other people to come visit India. I feel the same strategy should be adopted by Indian government even now .Canada needs labourers, for which Punjab is the best bet for them. Similarly, Indian students contribute a lot in boosting the Canadian economy . So, I think, the current situation will have no effect on the overall visa system for Indians coming to Canada for jobs or to study .

Mandeep
Toronto
Convenor, Montreal youth students organisation ( MYSO)

I am a permanent resident of Canada. I strongly feel that the recent statements given by the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau regarding involvement of Indian agencies in the murder of Sikh radical leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar is somewhat politically influenced. Canada will hold its general elections before 2025 and has more than 7.7 lakh Punjabi voters. The Khalistani agenda is dear to only a handful of people living in Canada. Most of us otherwise are more bothered about local issues — like inflation, jobs etc. Something happened during the G20 Summit in Delhi prompting PM Justin Trudeau to come back and make the sensational claim of the involvement of Indian agencies in the killing of Nijjar. There is tension among the Indian diaspora living here. All I want to say is that irrespective of their religion had been living in peace in the country so far and should continue doing so.

Khushpal Singh Grewal
Toronto
Volunteer MYSO

I think Canadian PM Justin Trudeau should not have alleged the hand of Indian agencies behind the murder of Sikh radical leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. It has triggered panic among lakhs of Indian students studying in Canada. A Hindu -Sikh narrative is being created in the country and that is not good. An independent inquiry into this murder needs to be conducted internally, rather than the PM making bold statements in the Parliament. I think the PM’s statements were made with an eye on wooing the 2% Punjabi voters before the elections. As of now, residents in Canada are suffering from inflation, housing crisis, skyrocketing prices of gasoline, recession in trucking, construction business and many other issues. The PM’s statements hence looks like an effort to deviate the people from the real issues at hand.

Manpreet Kaur
Prince Edward Island
Volunteer MYSO

No doubt that the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar needs to be investigated and the culprits need to be punished. However, the murder took place on Canadian soil raising a question mark over the law and order situation in the country. Also, why did the Canadian PM keep quiet for months about this murder and made a statement only after returning from the G20 Summit. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau knows that his popularity graph has been plummeting as his government hasn’t been able to resolve the issues of job crisis, inflation. In his previous term, he did a lot of good work for workers, students of Canada. But this time, he hasn’t been able to garner support, hence he has raised the issue of Nijjar’s murder to woo a section of voters. Such statements can have a larger impact on the lives of immigrants, their families living in India.

Varun Khanna
Toronto
Transport business

The recent statement of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau is an effort to make political gains as there are 7.75 lakh Punjabi voters in Canada. In June, 1985, the Kanishka aircraft tragedy happened when it was flying from Montreal to London. But I have not heard Trudeau ever say a word on the issue. I strongly feel that the current statements by Trudeau are an attempt to grab the attention of Punjabi voters. An inquiry in this case needs to be conducted and the guilty need to be punished. If someone demands for Khalistan in a peaceful manner, then we should not object to that.