Toronto [Canada], April 27 (ANI): Hundreds of Canadians from diverse communities braved the frigid night in Toronto to stage a powerful candlelight vigil and rally condemning the recent massacre of Hindus in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, by Pakistan-backed jihadi terrorists.
Organized by Hindu Forum Canada, COHNA, and several other Hindu organizations, the event on Saturday drew more than 500 participants — Hindus, Jews, Baloch, Iranians, and other Canadians — who marched through Toronto’s streets chanting “Pakistan Murdabad” and calling on the Canadian government to officially designate Pakistan as a terrorist state.
The solemn vigil featured community leaders urging immediate and decisive action. Speakers denounced not only the violence in Kashmir but also the broader threat of Islamist-Jihadi extremism. Leaders from Jewish, Iranian, Baloch, Hindu, and other Canadian groups stood united against terrorism. Candles and prayers honored the victims of the Pahalgam attack, reinforcing the message that terrorism must be confronted, not ignored.
Drawing a poignant comparison, rally organizers referenced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning that “What happened in Israel can happen anywhere,” a statement that now echoes in the context of the tragedy unfolding in Kashmir. Speakers warned that terrorism knows no borders and that indifference only emboldens extremists. They also called attention to the double standards evident in the muted reactions from groups that previously staged large protests for Gaza but have remained silent in the face of violence against Hindus.
This silence, they said, reveals a troubling inconsistency: cries for justice ring loudly for some, while Hindu victims of extremist violence are often overlooked. Rally speakers emphasized that atrocities faced by Hindus and other minorities — from massacres to cultural erasure — are not isolated national events but part of a broader global issue rooted in unchecked religious extremism. “Silence is complicity,” many declared, underscoring that standing against terror is standing for peace, justice, and humanity.
Journalist Daniel Bordman, speaking with ANI at the rally, highlighted the urgency of confronting emerging narratives seeking to distort the nature of the attack. “We’re here because I’m worried that within a week or so, there will be attempts to shift the narrative. Already, people are denying the atrocity or floating conspiracy theories,” Bordman said. Drawing parallels with the Jewish community’s experiences, he stressed the importance of immediate and visible solidarity: “There are Iranians here, Jews, members of the Baloch community — all different groups coming together to say — ‘We support the victims of terrorism, not the perpetrators.'”
Bordman warned that Kashmiri Hindus, who have endured seven genocides in history, could face an eighth if the world remains passive. “If we don’t stand up, if people worldwide don’t take a strong position, it could happen again. It’s important to prevent that,” he said.
Critiquing Canada’s muted response, Bordman urged stronger official support for India. “I think the Canadian government needs to release a stronger statement… It really has to show that terrorism doesn’t pay.” He stressed that Canada must explicitly mention India in its statements to show solidarity with democracies under threat. “Canada should send a message to India. The word ‘India’ was missing in all the statements,” Bordman observed.
He concluded with a warning that ideological extremism abroad will inevitably impact the West: “We can’t cling to the mentality that ‘ideological problems from across the world aren’t going to affect us here.'” The rally’s message was resounding — solidarity, vigilance, and action are urgently needed to confront terrorism, wherever it strikes. (ANI)
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