We must never relieve ourselves of our common humanity and mutual sympathy and respect toward our fellow citizens and the global good.
Considering that we do not have full public access to all the facts and that only investigating agencies and courts will be able to establish their merit in due course, it should still be possible to say that the acts of extrajudicial killing and violations of national sovereignty and international law can neither be justified nor overlooked. Their perpetrators must be held accountable.
We live in an interconnected world, and it is no longer possible to look another way when confronted with global political realities and injustices, and this obligation becomes even more pertinent in the current Canadian context. People from all parts of the world have come to this country in search of a better life for themselves and their families, but for better or worse, they also appear to have brought some of their homeland concerns and conflicts to Canada.
It is imperative for all of us, immigrant-diaspora in particular, to remind ourselves that no matter how problematic the injustices confronting us, we can never relieve ourselves of our common humanity and mutual sympathy and respect toward our fellow citizens and the global good. As Gandhi has rightly taught us, enduring changes in global politics can only be achieved through peaceful means — with the help of truth and non-violence.
I also see parallel values enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, focusing more on individual rights and freedoms, dignity and autonomy. I urge diaspora groups to think about the millions of lives that can be touched by their deliberate engagements in global affairs.
Expulsions of envoys by both countries is a serious matter. Mature democracies do not allow their relations to deteriorate beyond a certain point. What is concerning for many Canadians, though, is that global conflicts have started impacting community relations in Canada, exposing some of the fault lines in diaspora politics.
Canadians are meant to grow and flourish together peacefully, not against each other. And yet numerous cases of attacks and intimidation due to religious and diasporic identity have been reported.
In my view, to stop such attacks at home and enhance Canada’s reputation abroad, civic-minded diaspora groups must come to an agreement: to champion the rule of law, human rights and global justice; denounce the glorification of violence and respect empathy and public good; and become a bridge between their ancestral homeland and Canada.
More strongly, diaspora groups in Canada can be instrumental in fostering meaningful social and cultural relationships and strong people-to-people ties on a global platform. As has been said: “The world needs more Canada!”
One virtue of democracy, among many others, is that democratic governments remain accountable to their people and respond to their prodding. In India, opposition parties have started asking whether the India-Canada spat is damaging India’s image. Indo-Canadians are asking similar questions. Let us hope that all constructive voices are heard.
Rajesh C. Shukla is an associate professor in the faculty of philosophy at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, and chair of the 2024 Diaspora, Diversity and Immigration conference.