Hostile to human rights: South Asian groups urge Canada to label RSS as hate group

In a joint statement, members of 25 South Asian communities in Canada have called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to designate the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates as hate groups or far-right extremist organizations.

The open letter from groups including Hindus for Human Rights, the Canadian Council of Indian Muslims, and Canadians for Indian Democracy, highlights what they describe as RSS-linked Hindu nationalist extremism and violence against minority communities in Canada.

The appeal follows heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada after Canadian officials alleged that Indian government agents were involved in the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent pro-Khalistan leader.

The communities’ statement references a 2023 report by the National Council of Canadian Muslims, which reportedly links anti-Sikh violence in Canada to the RSS and associated groups, collectively known as the Sangh Parivar.

According to the statement, the presence of RSS-affiliated groups has led to what they describe as Hindu supremacist rhetoric and incidents targeting minority communities in Canada. The groups further allege that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the political arm of the RSS, is advancing a Hindu ethno-nationalist agenda in India that marginalizes minorities such as Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, and Adivasis.

The statement claims that under the BJP-led government in India, “atrocities against minorities have been carried out with impunity and often with complicity,” creating an environment of hostility for Indian diaspora communities, especially those vocal about human rights. The groups allege that RSS affiliates in Canada are also engaging in organized crime and violence, targeting Sikhs and other minority activists across North America.

The letter urges the Canadian government to enhance protections for South Asian and other minority communities and to investigate the activities of the RSS and its affiliates in Canada. The communities call for Ottawa to officially designate these groups as hate organizations to curb their influence and mitigate alleged threats to minority communities across Canada.