On Sunday (5th November), Canadian PM Justin Trudeau attracted controversy by mistaking the peaceful, holy Hindu Swastika for a Nazi Hakenkreuz, a symbol of hatred from the 20th century. The Canadian PM was talking about a pro-Palestinian rally that took on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday (4th November), where the hooked cross could be spotted. The Hakencreuz was used by the protesters to blatantly compare Israel to the Nazis.
The Canadian PM condemned the display of hooked cross flags displaying hatred but blatantly compared it to the Hindu Swastika committing a grave mistake. “When we see or hear hateful language and imagery, we must condemn it. The display of a swastika by an individual on Parliament Hill is unacceptable. Canadians have the right to assemble peacefully – but we cannot tolerate antisemitism, Islamophobia, or hate of any kind,” Trudeau stated on Twitter (X) after which Hindu netizens slammed the Canadian PM for equating the symbol of peace to the Nazi symbol of hatred.
When we see or hear hateful language and imagery, we must condemn it. The display of a swastika by an individual on Parliament Hill is unacceptable. Canadians have the right to assemble peacefully – but we cannot tolerate antisemitism, Islamophobia, or hate of any kind.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 5, 2023
Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Vinod Bansal corrected the Canadian PM and tweeted that the leader should know and learn about the symbol of peace first before blindly spreading hatred against it.
“Stop equating the Hindu symbol “Swastika” with the Nazi’s symbol “Hakenkreuz” or the Hooked Cross. Your language clearly shows that by coming closer to terrorists or protecting them, you are inclined to become Hinduphobic and Indiaphobic which is not good for a country like Canada. Remember, Terrorism never escaped even its founders and supporters,” Bansal tweeted.
Dear @JustinTrudeau ,
Please learn #Swastik before blindly spreading hate against it.
Stop equating the Hindu symbol "Swastika" with Nazi's symbol "Hakenkreuz" or the Hooked Cross. Your language clearly shows that by coming closer to Terrorists or protecting them, you are… pic.twitter.com/TC3JsJSIIC— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal (@vinod_bansal) November 5, 2023
Another netizen commented that this was the second time that the Canadian PM had compared the symbol of goodness and peace to the Nazi symbol of hatred.
Justin Trudeau doesn't know the difference between Nazi sign and Swastika:
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau again equates Hindu Swastika with Nazi Symbol, this time calls Nazi symbol of hate hakenkreuz – a Hindu Swastika. pic.twitter.com/oISAUHkYIZ
— Frontalforce 🇮🇳 (@FrontalForce) November 5, 2023
Meanwhile, many other Hindu netizens could be seen schooling the Canadian PM for making such a disgraceful comparison and hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community.
Swastika isn't a Hakenkreuz ! Pls use the right term for what is what…
Regards from India, that is Bharat 🙏— Sᴜᴢᴀɴɴᴇ Bᴇʀɴᴇʀᴛ (@suzannebernert) November 5, 2023
Notably, this is not the first time the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has made this weird comparison hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community. Earlier, in the year 2022, during the truck driver’s protest in Canada over the COVID-19 regulations, Trudeau and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh had raised voices against demonstrators raising hateful flags on the streets of Canada.
“Swastikas and Confederate flags have no place in Canada,” the leaders were quoted as saying. The Canadian leaders were schooled by Hindu netizens at that time as well explaining the difference between the two symbols. However, the Canadian PM making similar comparisons again indicates his alleged deliberate intentions to demean the Hindu community and its culture.
The HinduPACT (Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective), in the year 2022, had urged Trudeau and Singh not to conflate the “Swastika,” an ancient and auspicious symbol for Hindus, Buddhists, and many indigenous communities around the world, with the “Hakenkreuz,” a Nazi symbol of hatred from the 20th century.
Source: Opindia
