NEWS RELEASE about SolidarityPeace/WarMigrationMediaIdeasEducationDirect ActionArts posted on January 24, 2011 by Satnam Singh Sangra
Canadian Hindu Advocacy Group Spreading Hatred Towards Sikhs and Muslims
Hindu Advocacy Group Supports the Perpeptuation of Anti-Sikh Hysteria
Celebration of diversity is a true Canadian value.
Captain Harjit Singh of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Sergeant Baltej Singh Dhillon, British Columbia Provincial Intelligence Centre.
Bringing Freedom to the world - A Sikh soldier of the 11th Sikh Regiment with a captured Nazi flag in Italy at the end of the Second World War.
Sikh soldiers manning a tank in Libiya World War Two.
Vancovuer, British Columbia early 1900's -Several Sikh community leaders are shown in this picture. Sikh pioneers fiercely advocated for the rights of all Sout-Asians including Hindus and Mulsims in Canada.
Queen Elizabeth II has switched bearskin hats for turbans outside Buckingham Palace, where Sikh soldiers have begun guarding the monarch and her treasures.
Ron Banerjee of The Canadian Hindu Advocacy group is conveniently riding the wave of anti-Sikh hysteria being perpetuated by current ideological and political views of the Bloc Quebecios. In his letter to Ms. Beaudoin of the Bloc, Ron Banerjee has supported recent moves to place restrictions on Kirpans and the Niqab.
Mr. Banerjee, you state“Kirpans can be used as deadly weapons and there have been documented cases of Canadian Sikhs injuring others using kirpans.” You further mention that the Sikh turban has “been used in certain cases of violence, robberies, and concealment by terrorists.”You however fail to cite any examples or even establish a convincing connection between these articles of faith and violence during the past 130 years that Sikhs have been in Canada. In your letter you mention that “there is no place in Canada for destructive cultural traditions being imported from overseas...” What are your thoughts on the Hindu caste system? The Hindu caste system functions to legitimize the oppression and terrorization of people who are considered to be of the lower castes at the hands of the higher caste Hindu Brahmins. Is this not a destructive tradition?
Your anti-Sikh stance on the Kirpan issue is indeed very disturbing. Mr. Banerjee there is sufficient documented evidence of shoes and belts being used in violent attacks. Are you leading any movement to have shoes and belts restricted from public places as well? If not, what is the motive behind restricting the Kirpan? What special interests are you intending to serve? Have you stopped and thought of the unintended consequences of support for denying the Sikhs and Muslims their fundamental right of freedom of religion as enshrined in the charter of rights? Have you ever wondered what the impact of your stance will be on other minority groups and their rights?
It seems as though you have a selective memory or a severe case of historical amnesia when it comes to recognizing the sacrifices made by kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs for the protection of human rights. Mr. Banerjee it was the kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs that sacrificed their lives in the hundreds of thousands during the two world wars for the cause of human rights and democracy. Their exemplary bravery and valor are not lost on anyone. It was the Kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs that advocated for the rights of all South-Asians living in Canada from the moment they arrived. Very early in the 20 century it was the kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs that lead a movement to prevent the wholesale deportation from Canada of South-Asians including Hindus and Muslims to the British Honduras in 1908. In that same year it was the kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs of Canada who launched a struggle against the Continuous passage law. It was turban and kirpan wearing Sikhs that comprised delegations sent to London, Ottawa and India to fight against this racist law. The efforts of these Sikhs ultimately resulted in the Canadian government granting the right to all South-Asian men including Hindus and Muslims to bring their wives to Canada in 1919. Mr. Banerjee, it was the kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs who lead a continuous and sustained 40 year struggle from 1907 - 1947 which ultimately culminated in them securing voting rights and true citizenship for all South-Asians including Hindus and Muslims. Mr. Banerjee, it is because of the sacrifices of kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs that people like you enjoy the privileges and rights that come along with Canadian citizenship. It is very sad that you are supporting politicians who want to take away the fundamental right of freedom of religion from the Sikhs. How ungrateful!
For your information: Kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs are educating the future of our nation as teachers; Kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs are taking care of the health of Canadians as medical professionals; Kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs are upholding the law of the nation as lawyers; Kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs are transforming and improving cities and towns across Canada through their hard work and labour; Kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs are representing the aspirations of Canadians from coast to coast as elected representatives in the House of Commons; Kirpan and turban wearing Sikhs have taken a pledge to protect the interests of our Nation and its citizens as respected officers in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Armed forces.
Mr. Banerjee, let there be no doubt, the Sikhs are an integral and important part of Canadian society. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will always protect our right to practice our religion freely and without fear! The flourishing and vibrant Canadian Sikh communities are an extraordinary example of the success of Canadian Multiculturalism which serves as a model for the rest of the world. Canadians will not let the likes of bigots like you to destroy this image to further your own destructive agendas.
Mr. Banerjee, by spewing venom against the articles of faith of the Sikhs and Muslims you have proved yourself to be severely lacking in the values of respect and acceptance. It seems as if you have no faith in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms nor the Canadian multicultural policy - both of which are famous throughout the world and make Canada the best place on earth!
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Comments
Thank you for the eye-opening
Thank you for the eye-opening article, Mr. Sangra. The extremist Hindu organizations in India are also causing a lot of problems for the civilians there. I guess we have to be careful of them here in Canada as well.
Amazing article also mention
Amazing article also mention that it was the Turban and the Kirpan that saved the hindu daughters from the evils at 12 midnight to keep their honour and respect.
Very Well Written Indeed!!!
I am quite impressed to know the contributions of Sikhs in the Canadian society. It would have been nice to add verbiage surrounding Muslims contributions to Canada as well given the title used had them in it.
But nonetheless its a slap on the face for all those who support ill willed policies.
Canadian Hindu Advocacy statement
The Canadian Hindu Advocacy, Canada's largest Hindu lobby, applauds the PQ and BQ for calling for restrictions on burkhas and kirpans.
One reason for such restrictions is the identity of the organization opposing these restrictions. The World Sikh Organization of Canada, in many respects, is similar to Neo Nazi groups. Neo Nazi groups defend Hitler's actions and genocide against Jews.
The World Sikh Organization similarly defends the right of people to advocate for 'Khalistan', which is a genocidal goal. 'Khalistan' Sikh terrorists used Canada and Pakistan as logistics and support bases to slaughter Hindus and other minorities. They advocated for a Pure Sikh State, where the almost 50 percent of Punjab which was non Sikh would be ethnically cleansed.
The Canadian Hindu Advocacy considers the Indian military action against terrorists at the Golden Temple in 1984 to be heroic. We also fully support the 1984 actions by heroic Hindu civilians against Sikh terrorists in New Delhi, and welcome similar anti-terrorist actions in Canada.
We call on the Canadian govt to forcibly shut all Siklh temples which support and raise money for Khalistani genocide.
Sharad Deshpande
Canadian Hindu Advocacy
Canadian Hindu Advocacy Group Spreading Hatred Towards Sikhs and
Wow!!!! No wonder the British found it extremely easy to use the "divide and conquer" strategy in colonizing India. Just look at how we people from India seem to hate each other so much. Just see how all of us are being vindictive upon each other instead of helping each other to find rational solutions to some new challenges that have crept up in recent times due to terrorist activity in the world.
Canadian Hindu Advocacy Group Spreading Hatred Towards Sikhs and
As a Muslim, I commend you for your insightful and well-researched article. When bigotry and hatred is challenged with truth and facts, as the article has so skillfully done, it cuts off the legs of those who perpetuate intolerance and hate.
"Faith, contentment and tolerance are the food and provisions of the angels." (Guru Granth Sahib)
"Those who are merciful have mercy shown them by the Compassionate One, if you show mercy to those who are in the earth, He Who is in heaven will show mercy to you." (Prophet Muhammad)
"A Hindu has compassion and sympathy for all living creatures. Hinduism is a religion of love, kindness, mercy, selflessness and rendering assistance to the needy even at great cost to oneself." (Daya)
Ron Bannerjee would be well advised to adopt and follow the above principles instead of sowing the seeds of hate and intolerance.
alex
Very powerful article. I can feel the emotion. Very good points.
Canadian Hindu Advocacy Group Spreading Hatred Towards Sikhs and
How low this Canadian Hindu Advocacy Group stands by having such a mentally down graded person 'banerjee' with them.
For his information these 'Kirpan and Tuban' people stood against Mugals when Hindus were ruled by mughals and Pathans for centuries. At that time also, there were such Banerjees burning with jealously.
Wake up rejoinder to Mr Banerjee, the loser !
Dear Mr Banerjee,
The kirpan is not necesarily a sharp edged weapon as you have put it in your letter. It s an article of faith and not a weapon. The Sikhs have a well documented history for its use. When the Mughal ruler insisted on converting Kashmiri Hindus to Islam, they requested the ninth Sikh religious Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur ji , to intervene and save their right to practice Hindusim. In the process, the Guru had to sacrifice his own life to enable Kashimiri Pandits to live as Hindus . In the afternath of the Guru's beheading by the Mughal ruler, the concept of Kirpan was envisaged to allow people to protect themselves against the inavders. It is now a part of our basic existence and is not merely a weapon to attack others. In fact, present day Kirpans are not sharp at all.
I wish you had more sense and knowledge of history of the Sikhs , than you presently have demonstrated to posesses, and had read about the Kirpan before making an ass of yourself. This is about the very people whose religious Guru's have sacrificed their life to protect Hinusim in medival India .
As for the turban, documented history will tell you, if you spare time from your mschevous activtes, that it is a symbol of equality of mankind and has been envisaged by the Sikh gurus to do away with the caste system of the Hindu religion. The turban stands for equality in the face of caste system whch the Hindu culture had invented to deny basic human rights to people of the so called " lower castes".
SO much to shame you, if you know the meaning of the word. Shame on the system which fed you with hate and mischief. Sikhs shall continue to stand for world peace, equality and brotherhood. Long live the Sikhs, their turbans and ther Kirpan!
CHA's Banerjee a front man for zio-nazism
Banerjee and his organization were prominently featured as allies of the zio-fascist, Jewish Defence League and the neo-nazi, white supremacist, English Defence League 'support alliance' recently announced in Toronto by the JDL's leader, ex Kach, ex IDF, spokesperson Meir Weinstein. Weinstein also claims responsibility for prevailing upon his connections to Tory-zios Peter Kent and Jason Kenney in having George Galloway banned from Canada. This new zio-nazi alliance of which Banerjee is a staunch supporter and junior partner, is designed to carry the poisonous Islamophobic paranoia of its progenitors, into the Canadian grassroots. It should be vigorously and thoroughly stamped out before it has any chance to take root.
http://bigcitylib.blogspot.com/2011/01/jdl-history-rewritten.html