A senior member of the Indo-Canadian community has expressed grave worry about the "ecosystem" in Canada that has allowed Khalistan radicals to use violence, threaten, and coerce anyone who oppose their "nefarious agendas."
"It is very concerning for us as a country," Ritesh Malik, National Convener of the Canada India Foundation, told PTI in an exclusive interview here, amid the diplomatic impasse between Canada and India over the June shooting of a pro-Khalistan separatist in Surrey, British Columbia.
Malik warned that political appeasement for short-term gain is not in Canada's best interests.
"It is very concerning for us as a country, as Canadians… the direction which we as a country are taking in the sense of giving freedom of expression, which is our charter right, to people who don't believe in that same," the prime minister said.
"Peace-loving Canadians do not believe in (a) certain ideology which is very extreme, which does not belong to Canada," he went on to say.
Malik added that Khalistan fanatics in Canada "create differences in society and disturb communal harmony." They have a malicious goal and are severing ties between the two countries," he stated.
"Everyone should have the right to free expression." "Unfortunately, we have created an environment in Canada where these people are very vocal, very violent, very aggressive, and they don't let anyone.... speak out against them," Malik said.
"They will bully, threaten, and use every possible illegal means... to counter any sanity," he added, adding that Sikhs in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have publicly stated that they do not believe or support the Khalistan philosophy.
"These (are major issues) that concern us as Canadians in the long run." We are concerned about the future of our children and the schisms between communities," he said, adding that leaders in government and policy and advocacy officials should address these issues in the wider interest of Canada.
Following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in the Canadian Parliament last month that "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing" of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18, India and Canada are embroiled in a diplomatic standoff. The claim has been dismissed as "absurd" and "motivated" by India.
Malik pointed to the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 and stated that victims and their families still believe they have not received justice.
On June 23, 1985, the Montreal-Delhi Air India 'Kanishka' Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before landing at London's Heathrow Airport, killing all 329 passengers on board, the majority of whom were Canadians of Indian heritage.
The bombing was blamed on Sikh militants in revenge for 'Operation Blue Star' in 1984, which was aimed at flushing out extremists from the Golden Temple.
"As a Canadian, I have no qualms about admitting that we haven't been able to identify the ideology and people responsible for this." People have been harmed. There are persons within the Sikh community who have suffered as a result of this belief. "They have not received justice for over 40 years," he stated.
"With whatever patronage or support, this ideology has flourished and grown." That is not Sikh doctrine. "That is not what Sikhs believe in," he stated.
He questioned what prompted Prime Minister Trudeau to reach a decision in Nijjar's case in four months, noting that countries can resolve matters diplomatically behind closed doors.
"It looks to us, as Canadians, more like appeasement politics or a political move than anything else," he said, adding that the issue should have been handled differently to avoid further deterioration of the two countries' already strained relationship as a result of issues that have gone unresolved for decades.
Malik also mentioned that Canada has been confronting obstacles, like as economic recovery following the Covid-19 outbreak and rising living costs. "We need countries like India, partners like India," he said, referring to countries with expanding economies.
"It is in our interest as Canada, and as Canadians, to work closely with countries like India, and if there are issues, they need to be resolved in a way that it does not hamper Canadians' chances to get economic benefit from opportunities which India presents today," he said.
Malik emphasized the necessity of genuinely settling concerns between the two countries, "leaving aside short-term gains for votes, appeasement."
"Both of these countries have bright futures." Both sides are extremely progressive. They want the connection to thrive, for exchanges to take place, for students to come here, for people to come here to start up enterprises, and for people to go (to India) to investigate prospects," he said.
He emphasized that it is critical to resolve the issues and "nip them in the bud" rather than allowing them to escalate.
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