Mr. Speaker, the final petition I am presenting today comes from Canadians from across the country who are concerned about the state of religious freedom in India.
Petitioners want to highlight the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which recognizes the state of India's religious freedom. They point out that Christians in India are being targeted and that their churches are being attacked, their church workers are being attacked and their congregants are being threatened. They also point out that the Dalit groups are being persecuted, particularly Dalit women and girls, who are being registered as being victims of crime in India. As well, they point out that Indian Muslims are at risk of genocide and are being persecuted.
The petitioners are calling on the Canadian government to ensure that any trade deals signed between Canada and India have, as an underlying basis, human rights provisions, and to ensure that our human rights dialogue continues between Canada and India.