Hindu Forum Canada Urges Ban on Khalistani Activist Pannun’s Entry Over ‘Hate Speech’

Canada: The Hindu Forum Canada (HFC) demanded a ban on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s entry into Canada on Tuesday in response to the terrorist from Khalistan‘s “hate speech”. The Hindu organisation in Canada claimed that Pannun instilled panic among Indian and Hindu residents in Canada. Marc Miller, Canada’s House of Commons Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, was informed of the forum’s concerns by Peter Thorning, HFC’s legal counsel.

Hindu Forum Canada Calls for ‘Inadmissible’ Status for Khalistani Activist Over Legal Role and Statements

HFC asked that Pannun be declared “inadmissible” to Canada and that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) carry out the requisite inquiry and follow the correct procedures. “I wish to bring to your attention a matter of profound concern regarding Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He currently serves as the legal representative for the U.S.-based organization known as Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which advocates for the establishment of a separate Sikh state. Additionally, Pannun is the lawyer who issued a statement in support of Hardeep Singh Nijjar following his killing on June 18,” the letter read.

Hindu Forum Canada Highlights Diplomatic Ties and Security Concerns in Khalistani Activist’s Case

HFC’s counsel Thorning reminded the Canadian administration of the close ties between the two countries, pointing out that Pannun has been labelled a “terrorist” and that his group, SFJ, is a banned organisation in India. These ties have been strained because of Khalistani elements who are inciting hate under the guise of hate speech. “We highlight that the Government of India has previously labelled Pannu a terrorist, according to Indian media reports, and has banned the group in the country, accusing it of supporting violent extremism,” said the letter. “Canada and India have longstanding bilateral relations built upon shared traditions of democracy, pluralism and strong interpersonal connections. Canada is home to one of the largest communities of Indian origin, with approximately 4% of Canadians being of Indian heritage (1.3 million people). The deep cultural and political ties between Canada and India are strengthened by a growing network of official dialogues, agreements, memoranda of understanding and working groups,” HFC’s counsel added in the letter.

Khalistani Leader’s Anti-Hindu Remarks Trigger Call for Investigation and Entry Suspension

The Hindu organisation also drew attention to a recent video in which Pannun vowed to force all Hindus from India to leave Canada. HFC stated in the letter that Pannun claimed in the video that Hindus in Canada were “working against the same country that they economically benefit from.” The legal representative for HFC outlined the provisions under “Public Incitation of Hatred” and asked for an investigation into Pannun as well as the suspension of his entry into Canada. “If Pannun was in Canada at the time he made these statements, then he could have been properly investigated and perhaps charged with public incitement of hatred or the willful promotion of hatred,” the letter read.

Consequences for Inciting Hatred Against Identifiable Groups

Anyone who spreads statements that incite hatred against any identifiable group in a public setting and that are likely to cause a disturbance is guilty of an indictable offence and faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a summary conviction for the offence.

Spreading Hatred Toward Identifiable Groups in Canada’s Criminal Code

Anyone who intentionally spreads hatred towards any identifiable group through communication other than in private conversation is guilty of an indictable offence and subject to a sentence of up to two years in jail or a summary conviction.

Hindu Forum Canada Asserts Protection for ‘Identifiable Group’

“Section 319 of the Criminal Code makes it unlawful to incite or promote hatred against an identifiable group. There is no doubt that Hindus are an “identifiable group” as defined in section 318 (4) of the Criminal Code,” the letter further said. The SFJ chairman Pannun could be heard pleading with Canadian Sikhs to gather in Vancouver on October 29 to cast a vote on whether “Indian High Commissioner Verma is responsible for the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijaar” in the social media video. Pro-Khalistan Sikhs, according to Pannun, have always been obedient to Canadian law and the country’s Constitution.

Khalistani Leader’s Controversial Demand

Pannun yelled at Hindu Indo-Canadians in another widely shared video to leave Canada and go back to India. “Indo-Canadian Hindus, you have repudiated your allegiance to Canada and the Canadian Constitution. Your destination is India. Leave Canada, go to India,” he said. In the past, khalistani groups in Canada have organised referendums. India has brought up this issue with Canada on numerous occasions to voice its concern.

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