 Print
SAY NO TO MR. MODI AND MR. MODI WANNABE... MR. HARPER!
4-10-2015
This month, after more than forty years, a Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Stephen Harper, will roll out the red carpet for an Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi. Mr. Modi is not just any chip of the old block PM. It would not be unjust to say, he is ranked among one of the most controversial heads of state in current times. How controversial? To put it simply, up until last year he was shunned out by all western countries, including, U.S., Canada, Australia, UK just to name few. Most countries refused to issue him the Visa for being a party to "Crimes Against Humanity" for his alleged role as Chief Minister, in 2002 Muslim Massacre in India's largest province, Gujurat, which claimed about 2000 lives.
For more than twelve years he was unable to enter Canada, despite repeated attempts he was denied the Visa, based on a provision in Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that bars suspected human Rights abusers. This all changed when in March 2014, Mr. Modi won federal elections in India, claiming the PM Office. Although Canadian government fully aware of Mr. Modi's controversial past, PM Harper, in October 2014 at G20 Summit personally extended an invitation to Mr. Modi for an official visit to Canada.
Mr. Modi may have a very large Conservative Hindu following assisting him to secure the top job in a Hindu majority nation. However, Mr. Modi has his own controversies and critics, which continue to haunt him, and no matter what position he holds in Indian politics. It does not exonerate him from his controversial past where more than 2000 Muslims were killed under his reign in Gujurat.
Undoubtedly, India is becoming an economic powerhouse with 1.2 billion consumer market, its a nation no one can afford to snub. However, Canada's PM invitation to Mr. Modi is cause of concerns to many Canadians, not just Canadian Muslims.
As Mr. Modi prepares his three nations tour, France, Germany, and Canada, headlines tell a different tale. International News Agency Reuters, "India's Modi goes on shopping for Nuclear power in France and Canada." This certainly cannot be a soothing thought for many, given Mr. Modi's past, is Canada prepared to sell Uranium and Plutonium to India, cozying up to Modi, in an exchange for few business deals?
India would claim that they need Uranium and Plutonium to produce electricity. However, in past Canada has snapped its nuclear ties with New Delhi after accusing the Indian Government of using plutonium produced in reactor provided by Canada and installed in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Trombay for its nuclear test in Pokhran in 1974.
Mr. Modi's visit is significant from a Canadian perspective in many ways. The PMO issued a statement in stating, "Canada and India enjoy a close friendship based on shared values of democracy, pluralism and a mutual interest in expanding trade. India's growing economy presents enormous opportunities for Canada and I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Modi to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand our trade and investment ties with a view to benefitting citizens of both countries."
The million dollar question remains why Mr. harper and his Conservatives are so eager to role out the carpet for Mr. Modi? Is Mr. Harper gambling on an upcoming election? Hoping to cash in Gujurati Hindu Indo-Canadian votes which outnumber the Sikh Punjabi vote? By inviting Mr. Modi he is certain to win the hearts and minds of Gujurati Hindu voters at the expense of alienating Gujurati Muslims, and Sikh votes, both minorities in India feeling threatened with Mr. Modi's victory, anxious about their loved ones and their future as a minority in India. Since his victory at the polls last year Hindu fundamentalist have gained a sense of superiority over others, vowing to purify India, making it a true land of Hindus - Hindustan. There has been a rise in Hindu nationalist sentiments targeting minorities, mainly Muslims and Christians, including forced conversion to Hinduism.
It seems as if Canadian government just woke up to the reality of India as an economic power and decided to strengthen ties with India. What were the previous governments doing. Why suddenly after forty years of hibernation Mr. Harper decided to invite Indian PM Modi?
It all has to do with the upcoming Canadian federal elections and Mr. Harper is hoping to score points with the Canadian Hindu voters, in particular, Gujurati, which outnumbers all other Indo Canadian segments, mainly located in Metro Toronto Area.
It seems as if Mr. Harper and Mr. Modi certainly have one thing in common - they both thrive on politics of hatred and divide!
As one of the stops on Mr. Modi's tour would be Air India Memorial Site, located at Humber bay park in Toronto. Mr. Modi would apparently be paying tribute to Kanishka Bombing, also known as Air India Flight 182, Bombing, where several Canadian Sikhs were implicated as the mastermind.
Sikhs for Justice, (SFJ) views Modi's visits organized by Canadian authorities as placing a focus on Indo-Canadian Sikhs. SFJ Legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and director of international policy jatinder singh grewa;, in a joint press release issued on Tuesday stated, that, "they were planning to bring hundreds of community members to converge at the memorial site to challenge the alleged labeling of Canadian Sikhs as terrorists."
Mr. Pannu added, Modi's visit to the Kanishka Memorial Site would be a "Dishonor to the victims." The group is also petitioning to PM Harper to press Modi to recognize Sikhs rights in India.
Mr. Modi will be in Vancouver on the last day of his three day visit to Canada on April 16, where he will be visiting the Sikh Temple in Vancouver, Hindu temple in Surrey, and State dinner given by the PM Harper. All three events are bound to attract hundreds of protestors from different walks of life and human rights activists from different religious backgrounds, Christians, Muslims and Sikhs, all united to remind Mr. Harper and his Conservatives what a grave mistake they have committed few months before the federal elections.
We encourage people of all background to go out and support the human right activists against fascism and politics of hatred and divide by joining several protests being planned and say NO to Mr. Modi and Mr. Modi wannabe... Mr. Harper!
Footnotes:
|