According to Satnam Singh Chahal, founder executive director of the North American Punjabi Association ( NPA ), the escalating diplomatic tension between India and Canada will have a significant impact on the Sikh community, not just in Canada but also in the US and other countries around the world.
” Proactive dialogue between India and Canada is the pressing need to safeguard the rights and well-being of the Sikh group across both governments and globally”, Chahal, who lives in northern California, told the Times of India, speaking as a representative of NAPA, a worldwide non-partisan and non-sectarian company, founded in 2011, dedicated to serving and empowering the Indian community worldwide.
Chahal believes that the significant differences between India and Canada, which began with the death of Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, Canada, have highlighted the ongoing issues that the Sikh diaspora community faces in northern nations regarding issues of identity, protection, and democratic representation. We are “deeply concerned about the potential consequences of disturbed diplomatic relations between India and Canada on the Sikh community, which has long been a bridge between lively nations,” Chahal, who was a chosen director of Santa Clara county in California, said.
Chahal, who was born and raised in Punjab and immigrated to the US in 1997 with his family, believes that the growing anger between India and Canada has been having a negative impact on the Hindu society both there and in the US. The Sikhs have been renowned for their charitable work and contributions to the group wherever they are based. However, some of our gurdwaras have been deeply divided by the current intense condition. The concept of” sewa,” which is the foundation of our religion, is what we are a religious organization that helps others always in service to the larger community, he said. However, Chahal believes that the new tensions, which have been brought up by the conflict between the Indian and American governments, have altered how people perceive the Sikh community in North America.
The shooting of Nijjar, and the following stand-off between India and Canada, has exacerbated an existing split within the Sikh community, Chahal feels. ” Some society members view the American government’s approach as a genuine defence of human right, while others see it as an affront to India’s independence. This polarisation may make rifts within communities and social lines, leading to heated conversations and estrangement”, he said.
He added that the Indian government has n’t done enough to reach out to the Sikh community in the US in recent months. With more frequent reports of discrimination and racism reported by younger members of the community who wear turbans and have hairs, Chahal said,” all these elements have been hitting the British Sikh group rough.”
He added that some Hindu families in North America are having to navigate difficult relationships with friends and neighbors who are not Sikhs. Mistakes about a group’s political affiliations can lead to social isolation or stigma, especially if there is the impression that they support violent groups. Within the emigration, there can be substantial pressure to take sides in the social tale. Some activists may urge precaution in keeping good relations with India, especially those with family relationships back home, while others may call for solidarity with Nijjar’s reason. Additionally, social media has amplified tones within the area, creating sound halls where certain stories dominate”, Chahal said.
He adds that some Sikhs in Canada are concerned about their health and the potential for reaction as tensions rise between India and Canada and that Sikhs in America and Canada rely on the support of the US, Canadian, and American institutions to face such problems. NAPA calls on both the governments of India and Canada to ensure the safety of all communities, particularly minorities. Additionally, Chahal urged community members to actively participate in the political process, advance their rights, and ensure that their voices are heard in discussions that have an impact on their future.
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North American Sikh organisation calls for dialogue between India and Canada amidst rising tension
Satnam Singh Chahal
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