Welcome Back Justin Trudeau
– Vidya Bhushan Rawat
The Canadian citizens must be congratulated for returning liberals headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau without an absolute majority. He will need the support from other parties but the dangers of Conservative party returning to power are out of question now. In the 338 members Parliament, the Liberals got reduced fro 184 to 157 though the opposition conservative party increased its seats from 99 to 121 but still far short of the half way mark.
In the over all vote percentage conservatives were 34.4% while the liberals got 33.1% and the new democratic party headed by Mr Jagmeet Singh which got 15.9% vote share and 24 seats. Singh was projected as the Prime Ministerial candidates and has support of a large number of the minorities, immigrants and other progressive. This result also brought 98 women parliamentarian which constitute about 29% of the total representatives. Last time it was 88 members.
This time the Canadians have elected 19 members from Indian communities in which 18 happened to be Sikhs, perhaps their greatest representation in power structure anywhere in the world. In Indian Parliament there are merely 13 as per reports. Last year when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited India, he joked that he has more ministers from Sikh community than the government of India. In fact, he had five Sikh minister including one member holding the Ministry of Defense Portfolio. The party wise break up of these winning Indian Canadian also reflect a clear trend. 13 were elected on Liberal Party ticket headed by the Prime minister, 4 by the Conservative Party and one by the NDP.
Canada’s population is about 3,75,89,262. In terms of size, Canada is the second biggest country after Russia and it has a size of 9.9 million square kilometers. When the government worldover, particularly in the neighboring USA were speaking up against the immigrants and minorities, Canada was welcoming them with an open arm. According to data available, Canada admitted 3,13,580 immigrants from 2018 to 2019.
There was huge campaign against the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his alleged participation and support in some racist programmes during his student days but it was clear that the people of Canada looked at his current track record and voted him. People of Canada have delivered a verdict which should make all of us proud. It did not give a solid majority to the Liberal party may be because of their failure on certain domestic fronts but it supported them. More over, the growth of the parties like NDP, suggest that people would support the voices of minorities and immigrants.
The people of India can learn a lot from Canada. How this country is welcoming people from different parts of the world and how they are putting them in their power structure. The immigrants in Canada, the Sikhs or any one are not mere than century old unlike Muslims and Christians in this country who are living more than 700 years and there is no immigration here that happen to Western world and yet we are asking hundreds of questions of loyalty to both Muslims and Christians here whose track record in our national building remain far superior to those who are enjoying the fruits of power.
Today, we celebrate the victory of Canadian Indian and if there are ministers, we feel proud on them but why ? All of them are Canadian citizens and they might have migrated several years back and now dedicated to the constitution of Canada. Their only relation with India remain cultural. Can we do the same if things happened here. Muslims here are Muslim Indian and Indian Muslims and have no other loyalty. None celebrate elsewhere on their victory except their own constituency.
Every one know about the French speaking Quebec State of Canada which speak of its distinct French identity and talks of more autonomy and yet flourishing here. None call them anti national and there is no military presence. Canada is a shining example of how we can progress peacefully and in co-existence. India was an example. We all have those traits and we had a leadership who we hate because their building a plural society was the biggest hindrance in the way of those who wanted to get absolute power without any accountability.
Opposition is not a burden. All those who seeks votes in the name of minorities and immigrants are not anti national. Minorities, immigrants too have right to express their feeling and ask question to all in Parliament and must have representation. Indian media is running campaign to demolish the opposition and minorities as well as marginalised. Canadian have voted in a very diverse way and perhaps this is the best way now to run democracy and remain committed to people. With absolute majorities we are handing over power to dictators who are never democratic and misusing the faith of the people posed in them. The arrogance of power is allowing them to betray people and be pygmies of the big industrial houses. Both the political parties and Indian media must understand that diversity is to be celebrated and enjoyed. Canada is a new country in comparison to us but it is welcoming minorities, immigrants and we as an ancient civilization with a great track record of multiple-faith working together and contributing to nation building are converting our own people as ‘foreigner’ or anti national just because he does not follow your faith which is sad and dangerous too. A huge country like India can not run smoothly by putting a gun over the head of its minorities and making them suspect for every anti national or illegal act. This has to stop. Learn from the West and Canada particularly as it engages with minorities and immigrants and do not treat them anti national just because they disagree with the prime minister or ruling party.
We welcome Justin Trudeau again and hope his policies will strengthen world peace by increased engagements with migrants and minorities of all varieties world over.
