Several prominent Hindu groups have expressed their support for Canada’s Bill C-9, known as the Combatting Hate Act, as a crucial measure to combat hate, intimidation, and extremist activities in the country. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) emphasized the significance of this legislation in addressing the increasing incidents of intimidation faced by Canadians, particularly highlighting threats from alleged Khalistani extremists targeting the Hindu community. The new law introduces protections akin to bubble zones for places of worship and community areas, expands hate-symbol provisions, and aims to counter the rising intimidation faced by Canadians, including instances of Khalistani extremist threats against the Hindu community.
The Hindu Canadian Foundation (HCF) has urged the Canadian government to ensure the full implementation of Bill C-9 and take action against threats identified by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), especially those associated with Khalistani extremist networks in the country. The HCF commended Canada for rectifying an error by replacing the word ‘Swastika’ with the accurate hate symbol ‘Hakenkreuz,’ acknowledging the significance of this correction for millions of Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains in Canada. The foundation highlighted the collaborative effort of over 100 organizations across Canada in supporting this correction, underscoring the importance of unity in advocating for truth and fairness.
Emphasizing that legislation alone is insufficient, the HCF stressed the necessity of effective enforcement to ensure the safety of communities. The organization pointed out the ongoing targeted intimidation faced by Hindu Canadians from Canada-based Khalistani extremists, who seek to bring foreign conflicts into local neighborhoods. These networks have been linked to various forms of misconduct, including harassment, vandalism, promotion of violence, and organized disinformation campaigns. While Bill C-9 equips Canada with stronger tools, the HCF emphasized the critical need for decisive and consistent enforcement to safeguard communities effectively.
