Anti-Hindutva event in Montreal, Canada, disrupted: 'Mob shouted misogynistic insults'

By A Representative

An event in Canada, "The Struggle Must Continue! Hindutva Fascism in India and in the Diaspora, and its Impacts on Minorities”, is reported to have been disrupted in Montreal by a mob of more than 70 persons, identified as belonging to extreme right Hindu organisations. They reportedly pulled fire alarms inside the venue where the event was taking place, heckled and shouted down attendees.

"The mob surrounded the venue entrance, shouting misogynistic insults, and ultimately barged into the venue, blocking many participants from entering", eye-witnesses were quoted as saying.

The North American diaspora group Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) said, the "harassment followed earlier threats by Hindu nationalist groups—some of which have ties to overseas extremist organizations—pressuring Concordia University to revoke permission for the event. Due to these threats, the organizers relocated the event from its original venue to an alternate location."

The groups involved in disrupting the event have been identified as the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)-Canada, the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE), and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad-Canada, an overseas offshoot of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). CIA has designated VHP as 'religious militant group'.

The disruption took placed amidst the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America recently getting bogged down in controversy for its decision to parade an Ram Mandir float at the the New York City Indian independence day celebrations.

“IAMC unequivocally condemns the efforts of belligerent Hindu nationalists to undermine the free-speech rights of Canadian activists and academics,” said IAMC President Mohammed Jawad. “The fury of these counter protesters shows just how powerful our fight is to shine light on the dangers of Hindu supremacy.”

Though the event organizers took steps to de-escalate the situation as it unfolded, the right-wing Hindu groups did not vacate the premises until firefighters came and building security called the police, who escorted them outside of the building, said sources.

"The incident forms part of a longer Hindu nationalist campaign to silence overseas critics, which in the past has included sending countless death, rape, and bomb threats to U.S. academics", underlined IAMC.

“If we do not stand up to protect the free speech of activists critical of Hindu nationalism, our rights will continue to be attacked and eroded by belligerent organizations with ties to violent groups abroad,” added Jawad.

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Study links sanctions to 500,000 deaths annually leading to rise in global backlash

By Bharat Dogra International opinion is increasingly turning against the expanding burden of sanctions imposed on a growing number of countries. These measures are contributing to humanitarian crises, intensifying domestic discord, and heightening international tensions, thereby increasing the risks of conflicts and wars.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge — Blurring the line between fiction and political narrative

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" does not wait to be remembered; it arrives almost on the heels of its predecessor, released on March 19, 2026, just months after the first film’s December 2025 debut. The speed of its arrival feels less like creative urgency and more like calculated timing—cinema responding not to storytelling rhythm but to the emotional climate of its audience. Director Aditya Dhar, along with actor Yami Gautam, appears acutely aware of this moment and how to harness it.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

BJP accounts for 99% of political donations in Gujarat: Corporate giants dominate

By Jag Jivan An analysis of the official data on donations received by national parties from Gujarat during the Financial Year 2024-25 reveals a staggering concentration of funding, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accounting for nearly the entirety of the contributions. The data, compiled in a document titled "National Parties donations received from Gujarat during FY-2024-25," lists thousands of transactions, painting a detailed picture of the financial backing for political parties from one of India’s most industrially significant states.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Captains extraordinaire: Ranking cricket’s most influential skippers

By Harsh Thakor* Ranking the greatest cricket captains is a subjective exercise, often sparking passionate debate among fans. The following list is not merely a tally of wins and losses; it is an assessment of leadership’s deeper impact. My criteria fuse a captain’s playing record with their tactical skill, placing the highest consideration on their ability to reshape a team’s fortunes and inspire those around them. A captain who inherited a dominant empire is judged differently from one who resurrected a nation’s cricket from the doldrums. With that in mind, here is my perspective on the finest leaders the game has ever seen.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

‘No merit’ in Chakraborty’s claims: Personal ethics talk sans details raises questions

By Jag Jivan A recent opinion piece published in The Quint by Subhash Chandra Garg has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Atanu Chakraborty from HDFC Bank , with Garg stating that the exit “raises doubts about his own ‘ethics’.” Garg, currently Chief Policy Advisor at Subhanjali and former Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, writes that the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) appears to find no substance in Chakraborty’s claims, noting, “It is clear the RBI sees no merit in Atanu Chakraborty’s wild and vague assertions.”

Search This Blog