The initiative to have Hinduphobia as separately listed in the Human Right Code of Canada has started by the Indo-Canadian community leaders.

The matter has also been raised with the Federal Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the House of Commons and also with leaders of the community met with Canada’s Minister of National Defense Anita Anand on Saturday.  

Anita Anand was commiserative to the raised concerns which delegation that met her at her office in the town of Oakville in the province of Ontario, as she tweeted, “This morning, I met with members of our Hindu community. I was so pleased to hear about the incredible work that they are doing to engage with our youth. We discussed our collective ongoing work to ensure a country free from discrimination.”

She has also assured the delegations, representing Hindu organisation in Canada saying that she will facilitate communicating their concerns to relevant ministers. This matter was also been raised with the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which is currently chaired by Indo-Canadian Liberal Party MP Randeep Sarai.

Anita Anand has became the first person of Hindu community to be appointed to a cabinet position in Canada, when she was included in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s council of ministers after the 2019 elections, and was elevated to the defense portfolio in 2021.

As per the Canada’s Human Right Code (HRC), it forbids the discrimination on the basis of ‘ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin and creed’ and therefore it speaks for the all Canadians, including Hindus, to be free from hate and discrimination. It includes a ‘Glossary of Terms’ “such as Indigenous, anti-Black, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Asian to specifically recognise these religious, ethnic-racial, and geographic groups. The paper to the committee has however glossaries haven’t mentioned the Hinduphobia.

The lack of determined recognition for the term Hinduphobia has led to the phenomenon not being addressed, the submission argued.  “This error of omission has led to the worsening of systemic and institutional Hinduphobia and has become an impediment in the work that needs to be done to address this problem across public schools, workplaces and other institutions”, it said.

These attempts have came after two Hindu temples were vandalized last year.

 
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