100 Groups Back Mohan Bhagwat’s Canada Visit
More than 100 Canadian organisations and civil liberties groups have backed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat’s proposed visit to Canada, urging Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to reject political calls seeking to block his entry.
Canadian Groups Back Mohan Bhagwat Visit
The organisations have written to Carney and senior federal ministers, arguing that any decision on Bhagwat’s entry should be based on established law, credible evidence and due process rather than political pressure.
The signatories include Hindu temples, cultural organisations, civil liberties groups and Canada-India community associations.
They said Bhagwat’s proposed visit is of considerable interest to Canada’s Hindu community and argued that serious allegations against him should not be treated as established fact without independently verifiable evidence.
MPs Seek to Block RSS Chief Entry
The intervention follows calls from NDP MPs Jenny Kwan and Heather McPherson, along with other groups, seeking to have Bhagwat declared inadmissible to Canada.
The organisations supporting the visit challenged allegations involving hate speech, intimidation and links to violence, asking Canadian authorities to identify credible evidence supporting such claims.
They also rejected assertions that Bhagwat’s presence would create a public safety threat or trigger social disorder.
Groups Urge Canada to Uphold Due Process
The letter argues that preventing Bhagwat from entering Canada without substantiated evidence could raise concerns over religious freedom, multiculturalism and equal treatment.
The signatories acknowledged that political disagreement and peaceful protests against the RSS remain legitimate but maintained that immigration decisions should not be driven by political campaigning.
They urged Ottawa to uphold freedom of expression, religious freedom, peaceful association and due process while assessing the proposed visit.
