Around a dozen individuals gathered in downtown Montreal on Monday to show support for demonstrations in India, where a significant number of protestors opposing controversial changes to the country’s voter lists have been detained.
Expressing his concerns, Bhaskar, originally from India but now living in Montreal since 2018, highlighted the distressing situation. He chose not to disclose his last name due to fears of repercussions from the Indian government.
Citing violations of democratic principles, Bhaskar emphasized the disenfranchisement of numerous voters by the government. The rally was coordinated by the South Asian Diaspora Action Collective and the Center for Study and Research in South Asia.
In recent months, India’s Election Commission has deleted over 130 million names from the voter lists, a substantial figure given the country’s massive population nearing 1.5 billion as per UN statistics.
Opposition parties and protest groups claim that the removals disproportionately target those opposing the ruling party, though the Indian government refutes these allegations.
Among the Montreal protesters was Najmi, a long-time resident originally from India, who expressed anxiety over her family enduring the political turmoil in their homeland. She highlighted the government’s citizenship verification process and its potential impact on voting rights.
Najmi suggested a discriminatory motive behind the efforts, aiming to favor the Hindu majority over Muslim and Christian individuals.
In India, the Cockroach Janata Party, a youth movement, has been at the forefront of protests against the controversial changes. Despite the detention of movement leaders and protesters by Indian authorities, the resolve to continue demonstrations remains strong.
The ongoing protests coincide with Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu’s visit to India, as both nations aim to finalize a free-trade agreement by year-end. Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister since 2025, has prioritized improving relations with India, with some Montreal protesters calling for a reevaluation of ties in response to recent events.
Expressing her worry over the lack of awareness among her Canadian peers regarding the tensions in India, Veena Gokhale, who left India three decades ago, emphasized the importance of engaging in such critical issues.
