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Extra.ie
7 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
'India Day will not be ruined' as council insists celebration is postponed -- not cancelled
Far-right agitators will not be given the opportunity to 'ruin' India Day, the Ireland India Council has said. The statement came just hours after the group decided to postpone the annual celebration, citing a 'spate of violent attacks' on members of the Indian community in recent months. Prashant Shukla, chairman of the Ireland India Council (IIC), told that postponing the event was 'very difficult' and 'emotional'. He said the Council believes there is an 'organised' social media campaign against the Indian community in Ireland, and the number of violent attacks has intensified since January this year. India Day takes place in the Phoenix Park every year. Pic: Getty Images Mr Shukla told that members of the Indian community are 'really concerned and fearful' for their safety at present. He said that after consulting with An Garda Síochána, it was agreed that the Indian Day celebration should be deferred until later this year. He added: 'Anything could happen, we just do not know.' The IIC chair expressed concern over the optics of going ahead with the event. He said that there is a perception on social media – which is being spread by far-right and extremist groups – that Indians have 'taken over the State' and are fuelling the housing crisis. He said: 'So we want to actually balance these counter-narratives, they are very, very negative. We will review the situation and we will announce new dates for India Day this year.' India Day takes place in the Phoenix Park every year. Pic: Mr Shukla also said the IIC had considered going ahead with the celebration on the grounds of standing up to racist agitators. But he said the group ultimately decided that it would be 'unreasonable' to compromise the integrity of the day and the safety of those attending 'to make a point'. Mr Shukla added: 'India Day is not cancelled, it is postponed. We will celebrate this year, but people are worried and scared right now. We are not giving the far-right what they want by not going ahead, but we are also not giving them the opportunity to ruin the celebration or harm any members of our community.' This week, one of the largest newspapers in India, the Hindustan Times, carried the headline: 'Harassed by a child: Indian family in Ireland recounts disturbing racist encounter.' The report was about how two boys, aged about seven or eight, had grabbed the crotch of a 60-year-old Indian man and repeatedly harassed him at a Dublin bus stop. An Indian tech worker was beaten, stabbed, robbed and partially stripped by a gang in nearby Kilnamanagh, Tallaght. Pic: Seán Dwyer On August 1, Indian data scientist Dr Santosh Yadav suffered a broken cheekbone and had multiple injuries all over his body after he was attacked by a group of teenagers in Clondalkin, south-west Co. Dublin, and in July, an Indian tech worker was beaten, stabbed, robbed and partially stripped by a gang in nearby Kilnamanagh, Tallaght. Gardaí are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime. Tánaiste Simon Harris and Immigration Minister Colm Brophy met with the IIC yesterday and other groups representing Indian citizens here. Mr Harris condemned the number of racist assaults taking place, many of which have been orchestrated by juveniles. Attacks in recent weeks included an alleged assault of a six-year-old Irish-Indian girl in Waterford. The assault, along with numerous other attacks on Indian people, is currently being investigated by gardaí. Speaking yesterday afternoon, Mr Harris described the attacks on Indian citizens of recent weeks as 'abhorrent'. Pic: Olivier Hoslet/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock The volume of violent attacks has led to the Indian embassy in Dublin issuing an advisory to citizens, urging them to avoid isolated areas in Ireland and to be generally more conscious of their security and surroundings. In the hours before meeting with Government representatives, the IIC announced its decision to postpone India Day. The celebration has been held in Ireland since 2015, with hundreds of performers and volunteers preparing for Sunday's event at Farmleigh House, adjacent to the Phoenix Park. Speaking yesterday afternoon, Mr Harris described the attacks on Indian citizens of recent weeks as 'abhorrent'. The Foreign Affairs Minister acknowledged the number of juveniles perpetrating these assaults and said that he would be in favour of introducing tougher penalties for teenagers involved in racist attacks. Ganesh idols ahead at the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Kolkata, India, on August 10, 2025. (Photo by Sudipta Das/NurPhoto via Getty Images) While Mr Harris said he does not want to 'cut across' the work of Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, he said that there should be a review of existing legislation to ensure the laws of the State protecting people from assault are being enforced. He added: 'Serious consideration must be given to whether our laws are robust enough where assaults, attacks, or other criminal activity are carried out – particularly by teenagers or very young offenders. This concern was raised directly with me by the community today and it is something I hear often from people across the country: if crimes are committed by young people, we must ensure there are consequences and real deterrents.' Mr Harris also said that policymakers must examine 'where this hatred is coming from,' adding: 'No child is born a racist. This is not who we are. I must say, in my meeting with the Indian community, they're very clear too, that this is not what Ireland is. Simon Harris – Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos 'The overwhelming majority of people in this country understand that we are better as a result of people from India and other countries coming here, making Ireland their home and contributing positively to society. But it is quite frightening when you see children engaging in activity that is clearly racist.' The Tánaiste highlighted the role of social media in 'amplifying division, hatred and abuse in ways that cause real harm'. He said: 'Social media companies must be held accountable for preventing the spread of racist and hate-filled content on their platforms. Racism has no place in Ireland – not on our streets and not online.' In its meeting with the Tánaiste and Mr Brophy, Aparna Shukla from the IIC said the council wanted assaults on members of the Indian community to be recorded as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are 'appropriately recorded and addressed'. The IIC has called for a cross-departmental task force on hate crime and youth violence and 'legislative reform' to hold parents more accountable for the actions of their children. It also called for enhanced policing, swift prosecution and an outreach programme to affected communities. Mr Shukla said Mr Harris and Mr Brophy committed to outlining actions they would take to combat racist attacks in two weeks. Members of the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland also attended the meeting. They said that families feel 'insecure' about leaving their homes because of recent attacks. Dr Jasbir Singh Puri, who has been in Ireland for 38 years, said when he arrived in Ireland, people would have helped guide them. He said: 'It was a land of a thousand welcomes, but now it looks like values have been eroded.'
CBC
09-04-2025
- General
- CBC
Indigenous child welfare is a part of my family and is shaping my vote
This First Person column is the experience of Jolene Saulis Dione, who grew up in New Brunswick and now lives in Ottawa. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ. Motherhood holds many wonders, but perhaps one of the greatest is having deep, meaningful conversations with all children. These aren't the everyday chats that involve them calling me "bruh," but rather the moments when they set aside their phones and gaming consoles to truly connect. Over the past year, my 12-year-old, in particular, has developed a keen interest in social sciences, history and politics. This has led to profound discussions and complex questions that challenge me to provide thoughtful answers — though she still manages to roll her eyes when I suggest she read a book instead of watching TikToks. On a recent car ride home from school, we talked about the upcoming election and what it could mean for Indigenous peoples particularly children. Gwen asked, 'What about all the Indigenous children still in foster care, Mom? Why aren't governments doing more to protect them and ensure they're cared for?' It hit close to home. Our family holds deep roots in Tobique First Nation and Kahnawà:ke (my husband's community) — a source of immense pride that also comes with the responsibility of being honest with my daughter about Canada's dark history and its lasting impact on Indigenous peoples. My father, Mac Saulis, went to an Indian Day school, where he endured both physical and emotional abuse. My grandparents, too, were compelled to attend day schools. My father went on to work in social work for nearly 35 years, first on reserve and later as a professor. He played a key role in Indigenizing social work programs, incorporating traditional knowledge, values, practices and healing methods into the curriculum. Even closer to home, I have two First Nations adopted brothers who were part of the foster care system, and their remarkable stories of overcoming trauma inspire me every day. Professionally, I spent seven years working as a public servant to support positive reforms in Indigenous child welfare. A highlight of my career was contributing to the development of C-92: The Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families, which empowers Indigenous communities to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. Despite these efforts, I know that Indigenous children remain disproportionately represented in the system. According to the 2021 census, while Indigenous children make up only 7.7 per cent of the child population, they account for 53.8 per cent of children in foster care. Despite efforts to progress forward there is still more work to be done to reduce the number of children in care. The focus needs to fully shift from a failing non-Indigenous system to supporting Indigenous families to keep children with them and their communities. For me, voting isn't just casting a ballot. It's also a way to honour the resilience of those who came before us, including my own ancestors, who faced systemic barriers and discrimination. Many people don't realize that before 1960, First Nations peoples in Canada could only vote federally if they gave up their Indian status through enfranchisement. This granted them citizenship rights but stripped them of their Indigenous identity — one of many examples of systemic discrimination. Which brings me back to my daughter's words during that powerful conversation, which simply captured how I believe we should approach this issue: "We need to think with our head and lead with our heart." When I was her age, I dreamed of studying political science, pursuing law and one day becoming prime minister. But as I grew, I realized that my true calling was to be a mom — a role that shapes not just my life, but the way I vote. Voting, to me, is about advocating for the most vulnerable and striving to create a better world for future generations. As I prepare to cast my vote in this election, I'll be listening to what politicians have to say about the care of Indigenous children on and off reserve. Because for me, voting isn't just about policies — it's about people. It's about ensuring a better future for the next generation. And while I know she'll still call me "bruh" when I remind her to clean her room, I also know these conversations are shaping my daughter into someone who will one day change the world — messy room and all.
