South Asian Communities In Canada Ask Trudeau To List RSS, Affiliates As 'Hate Groups' (image @JustinTrudeau)

Members of 25 South Asian communities in Canada wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudea, asking the government to list the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates in Ottawa as hate groups or far-right extremist entities. The new development comes amidst unprecedented tensions between India and Canada over Ottawa’s allegations that Indian government agents were involved in killing Hardeep Singh Najjar, a pro-Khalistani leader.

The members cited a 2023 report that linked anti-Sikh violence in Canada to the RSS and the Sangh Parivar. The report was submitted by the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

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The report stated, “The presence of Sangh Parivar and RSS-related groups sadly but predictably overlaps with various incidents of Hindu supremacist rhetoric and action in Canada.” It added that the BJP is the political arm of the RSS, a paramilitary organisation that promotes “Hindutva,” or Hindu nationalism, inspired by European fascism.

“Founders of RSS explicitly espoused Fascist ideology. In the ten years of BJP rule in India we have seen blatant examples of this, as the government takes India toward their goal of making the country a Hindu ethno-nationalist state in which the 200 million Muslim population and other minority populations such as Sikh, Dalit, Adivasi (indigenous peoples), and Christians are made second class citizens,” as quoted by The Wire.

The open letter urges the Canadian government to extend protection to South Asians and other minority communities and investigate the human rights violations and influence of the RSS and its affiliates. The letter urged the Canadian government to list RSS and its affiliates in Canada as hate groups or far-right extremist groups.

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The signatories of the letter also include Hindus for Human Rights, the Canadian Council of Indian Muslims (CCIM), the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Montreal, the Canadian Forum for Human Rights and Democracy in India, Canadians Against Oppression and Persecution (CAOP), Canadians for Indian Democracy (CID), and Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU).

(With inputs from agencies)