'Hey turban head, go home': Sikh politician Hardeep Grewal says 'fight against hate far from over' in Canada

Ontario MPP Hardeep Grewal (Image: X/@hardeepgrewal_)

Ontario MPP Hardeep Grewal recounted an encounter on X on October 6, writing, “Today in downtown Muskoka, while sharing ice cream with my family, two strangers decided to share their hate instead. One yelled, ‘Hey turban head, go home,’ before speeding off. Another, walking by, said, ‘You all should die.’ In that moment, I was reminded that the fight against hate is far from over.”

“It is not the first time this has happened, but today I feel compelled to speak out about how exhausting and painful it is,” he said, describing the experience as one that reflected a larger problem. “To my Sikh brothers and sisters, stay vigilant, stay proud, and stay strong. Hate never wins. Good will always triumph.”

The incident took place in Muskoka, a scenic township in central Ontario, and comes amid growing concern over rising hate directed at Indian immigrants, especially Sikhs, across Canada.

It is not the first time this has happened, but today I feel compelled to speak out about how exhausting and painful it is.

Today in downtown Muskoka, while sharing ice cream with my family, two strangers decided to share their hate instead.

One yelled, “Hey turban head, go…

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— Hardeep Grewal (@hardeepgrewal_) October 6, 2025

Late in September, Mississauga residents discovered racist graffiti reading “Indian rats” near a children’s park -- part of what many say is an emerging trend of hostility toward the Indian community, one of the largest and most visible immigrant groups in the country, reported Hindustan Times.

According to HT, Naresh Chavda, founding director of the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians (NAIC), blamed “the influence of the anti-immigrant measures adopted by the Administration of US President Donald Trump” for the spread of racism in Canada. He said it was “unacceptable” that “not a single politician, including Mississauga’s Mayor Carolyn Parrish had condemned the ‘India rats’ signs.”

Shinder Purewal, Professor of Political Science at Kwantlen Polytechnic College in British Columbia, has been quoted in HT report as saying, “The United States of America is spearheading a campaign against both legal and illegal immigration, which has repercussions in Canada. In essence, blaming foreigners for stealing Canadian jobs and immigrants for driving up housing and rental expenses is much simpler than dealing with complex economic issues.”

He added, “During economic downturns, the underemployed and jobless find right-wing racial views more appealing.” According to him, “The outwardly symbols of the Sikhs makes them an easy target. Other non-white immigrants also have a difficult time, but Sikhs stand out because of their external markers.”

As tensions escalate, Peel Regional Police -- which covers much of the Greater Toronto Area -- announced the formation of a centralised Hate Crime Unit. Deputy Chief Mark Dapat said, “Our new dedicated Hate Crime Unit will relentlessly pursue and hold those who commit hate crimes accountable. Acts of hate have no place in our community," the report said.