Madam Speaker, I have three petitions to present today.
The first petition is on behalf of the many Canadians who are concerned about the human rights protections in India. The petitioners state that, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, various actors are supporting and enforcing sectarian policies seeking to establish India as a Hindu state.
They state that Christians in India are being targeted by extremists, who are vandalizing their churches, attacking church workers and threatening or humiliating their congregations. They also state that crimes against the Dalit groups, including Dalit women and girls, are increasing. Moreover, they state that Indian Muslims are at risk of genocide, assault and sexual violence.
The petitioners are asking the Canadian government to ensure that all trade deals with India are premised on mandatory human rights provisions, that extremists be sanctioned and that the government promote a respectful dialogue between Canada and India.