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MetroVanIndependent.com
May 2015
NEWS
India’s Prime Minister Modi makes historical visit to Canada
By Steve Marshall
Canadian Prime Minister Harper and Indian Prime Minister Modi in Vancouver.
Photo by Steve Marshall
MP Jason Kenney introduced Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “The
man who has won the largest democratic
mandate in human history”. According to
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Modi is the first sitting Indian Prime Minister
to visit Canada in a stand alone tour in 42
years.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit was met
with both adoration and disdain at some
of the events in Canada this week.
Protesters alleged Modi’s BJP government
discriminates against non-Hindus. In 2002,
there were anti-Muslim riots in Gujurat,
India that resulted in over 1,000 deaths
during anti-Muslim riots. Protesters hold
Modi responsible because he was the
state’s Chief Minister at the time.
Stephen Harper had his own detractors
during the visit while accompanying India’s
Prime Minister. Outside the Pinnacle Hotel
protesters chanted “Leave Now” and
“Arrest Harper”.
Security was tight at The Pinnacle
Vancouver Harbourfront Hotel. After PM
Harper gave his speech, PM Modi spoke
through an English interpreter. “I believed
this visit is successful. Although India and
Canada have so much in common, we were
not in each other’s thoughts for so many
years. But today it is my deep belief that
not only we will be present in each other’s
thoughts but also in our endeavors. We will
walk together, we will be with each other.”
said PM Modi during his speech.
2014 Top 25 winner receives national award
Alberta based activist and 2014 Top
25 Canadian Immigrant Awards winner,
Manwar Khan has received Governor
General's Caring Canadian Award for his
volunteer commitments and contributions.
His Excellency the Right Honourable
David Johnston, Governor General of
Canada, presented this award on April 14,
2015, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in
Ottawa.
Manwar Khan, a Government of Alberta
employee, has been an active community
advocate against violence and bullying
since witnessing and intervening to stop
a deadly attack against a fellow commuter
on an Edmonton LRT train in December
2012. Manwar is leading a movement
in Alberta as an anti-bullying activist to
create awareness against bullying and to
encourage people not to be bystanders
when they see such type of incidents
taking place. His anti-bullying campaign,
Do Not Be A Bystander, has hosted
eight rallies in cities across the province,
garnering support from mayors of both
Edmonton and Lethbridge. “It’s an honor to
be recognized by the Governor General of
Canada. I share this award with my family,
friends and all the people who are making
positive differences in Albertans’ lives.”
Khan says.
Picture taken at the Caring Canadian Award ceremony at the Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
From Left: Ziyana Amela Khan, Honourable David Johnston, Manwar Khan, Nashid Khan, Soma Farin
Khan and Adyaan Mijaz Khan.