THE INDO-CANADIAN COMMUNITY IN B.C. CAN STOP THEIR POLITICAL SCANDALS COLD…AND STOP ‘SUPPORTERS’ WHINING ABOUT RACISM WHEN CHALLENGED…THE PATTERN IS CLEAR…
See if you can recognize a pattern here:
Ujjal Dosanjh speaks out on issues of equality and fairness and against Khalistan secession from India. Results: the necessity for 80 stitches to the head courtesy of four extremist thugs. The scandal that ensued was of the upheaval in the Indo-Canadian community that had not learned to play nice in Canada–in politics. And after a lengthy and honourable career in provincial opposition and government, culminating in becoming Premier…while MP in Paul Martin’s government, met with Gurmant Grewal (see below) to offer “future inducements” if Mr. Grewal would switch to the Liberals…..
Moe Sihota, the one and only, served in the provincial cabinets of Michael Harcourt, Glen Clark and Ujjal Dosanjh. In so doing, he was forced to resign numerous times in the midst of scandal. Most notably, in 1998, he resigned for making a phone call to the Motor Carrier Commission, a quasi-judicial body, on behalf of a friend who was seeking a limousine license. Amazingly, he currently holds the position of BC NDP President…..
Gurmant Grewal is a former Conservative MP whose political career was steeped in scandal. Among other extremely inappropriate actions, he entered negotiations with the federal Liberals and demanded a Senate seat for his wife Nina Grewal (see below) and a cabinet post for himself. In the revelations of the tapes he made of those meetings, the splicing of the recordings caused extreme embarrassment and showed that there were as many demands by him as there were inducements from the Liberals…..
Nina Grewal, a current Conservative member of Parliament, lied about knowing of the existence of her husband’s taping of then Liberal PMO Chief of Staff Tim Murphy and Ujjal Dosanj—and never offered a sincere if not unequivocal apology…..
Herb Dhaliwal has his constituency association executive brutally hijacked by ‘Basi’s Boys’ on instructions from former Liberal powerbroker Mark Marissen, during the Paul Martin leadership bid. This was while Mr. Dhaliwal’s (then) wife was on her deathbed and Mr. Dhaliwal was on his way home from out of town…..the beneficiary of the takeover: Ujjal Dosanjh, who holds the seat today…barely.
Sukh Dhaliwal, a current Liberal MP, writes to a U.S. District Court judge on official House of Commons stationery, in support of a convicted international drug trafficker Ranjit Singh Cheema, who got five years in a California ‘Big House’ and was an associate of Indo-Canadian gangster royal Bindy Johal. When questioned by the press, Dhaliwal says, “I think he’s rehabilitated” Turns out the convicted was a son of a friend…..
Dave Hayer, a current provincial Liberal MLA, was once investigated by the RCMP for allegations, since revealed as “unsubstantiated”, for trying to work with former political organizer for the provincial and federal (Martinite) Liberals, Dave Basi, in having constituents’ ICBC debts either negotiated or forgiven.
Kash Dhaliwal, a failed Vision Vancouver candidate for council, has his notorious campaign manager and current Vision chief propagandist, Jonathan Ross (who identifies as Indo-Canadian and is married to an Indo-Canadian woman) populating websites and newspapers with incendiary statements suggesting that Mr. Dhaliwal’s loss was as a result of “racism.” When it is revealed that the campaign was fraught with inept leadership and viral mismanagement, the accusations were dismissed by the press…..
Raj Hundal, the former Vision Vancouver Parks Chair, and current Parks Commisioner—while a member of the PNE Board is somehow involved in an altercation between a “cousin” (also Indo-Canadian) and a Halloween actor at the PNE. Mr. Hundal refused to return calls to media asking for specifics and never comments on the details again, instead preferring to hide behind party PR consultants. As a result, he felt obligated to commit to the extraordinary step of resigning from the PNE Board, to which, he has never returned…..
Kash Heed, the now resigned Solicitor General, is enveloped by scandal, as a result of a whole slew of controversies and allegations about inappropriate material being released by his campaign and associated accusations. His campaign manager, Barinder Sall, a former disciple of Dave Basi, is nowhere to be found and refuses to clear the air in the intense media circus that has ensued. While Mr. Heed maintains he’s done “nothing wrong” and was “not aware” of the allegations of dirty tricks, print media reports reviewed by this writer (and others) clearly show that those same allegations were very public during the campaign and impossible not to have noticed, heard of or read about…..
So, two provincial NDPers, two provincial Liberals, two federal Liberals, two federal Conservatives and two Vision Vancouverites…all from B.C….
Now, before someone fires off at me under the tiresome and expedient race card, let me tell you a few things…I am well aware of all the scandals involving one white male over another.
I am also one of the few writers to have ever pointed out that the apology over the Komagata Maru incident was not enough and woefully late.
I have enjoyed Vaisakhi every year with Hindus and Sikhs alike (although it’s viewed as a Sikh holiday). And I count many Indo-Canadians as very good friends.
Hence, this, for me, is about saving a culturally rich and terrifically vibrant community from potential (further) disrepute–and NOT about accusing them of being unable to straighten their bow.
There are numerous Indo-Canadian politicians in this province that have served us all extremely well. Herb Dhaliwal, Barinder Rasode, John Nuraney and Tom Gill immediately spring to mind.
The problem is, that in the above list of scandals, is a clear pattern:
1) Young Indo-Canadian organizers when faced with opportunities to cut corners for their own or employ questionable, often ham-fisted, over-the-top strategies, won’t hesitate to take the easy route and then, if caught, will scream of being targeted by racists or simply hide behind PR fools (I know that’s redundant), party hacks, high-priced lawyers or Mom and Dad. A $2,000 Armani suit and a cell phone makes many of them feel like G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu grip, but in reality, they are vacant of any qualifications to be involved in political life and only resort to acts that are, at best, examples of emotional frailty.
2) Indo-Canadian candidates/public servants need to do a much better job in comporting themselves. Playing off the vast numbers and solidarity of their own is not enough. It never has been, but now it’s glaring.
3) The manipulation, sometimes within their own community, has hurt otherwise more than satisfactory accomplishments. Being used by one party or another for sheer numbers is embarrassing. Do they not have more to offer than that?
4) The wonton disregard for observations such as these above should be met the same way gang-related problems that were plaguing the Indo-Canadian community were met a few years back: Head-on. Sgt. Shinder Kirk (an Indo-Canadian) was appointed to head up a committee to address intra-community problems related to gang activity. Might I be so bold as to suggest, in this case, someone with a stellar constitution and unblemished record of service like Herb Dhaliwal? Because if the Indo-Canadian community are going to play a greater role in any government, then (their/our) possible representatives and campaign workers must be ethical and honourable.
Because this needs to stop.
Right now.
The Indo-Canadian community have been front and center in providing this province with some absolutely superb public servants (Herb Dhaliwal), prominent business people (Amin Lalji), philanthropists (Dr. Ragbir Singh Bains, OBC), doctors (Dr. Gurdev Gill), lawyers (Ravi Hira, Q.C.), real estate developers (the Atwals) and agents (Avtar Bains), musicians (Nick ‘Brownman’ Ali), media (Ian Hanomansing) and entertainment show hosts (Monika Deol)–all stellar examples of great Indo-Canadians.
But this other political nonsense needs to stop now. It’s rampant and suggestions otherwise are absurd.
I can name two qualified, competent political organizers: Jatinder Rai and Robin Dhir, both of whom I’m privileged to know well. There must be other Indo-Canadian organizers who are skilled and ethical, too.
And, yes, again, this is a problem that permeates politics regardless of which community we offer up, but in the South Asian community, the examples are obvious, if not painful.
The Indo-Canadian community must purge itself of those not prepared to take a principled path, the same such path that brought so many of the aforementioned stars to their career zeniths; the same such path that has made (appropriately) proud India an emerging global powerhouse.
If the accusations against Kash Heed, for example, are found to be bogus, lovely. But if they’re true, then he and whoever else is responsible must never again be allowed to be the face of the community for anything, except perhaps, as someone whose example NOT to follow.
Stop this now.
The South Asian community deserve better. Way better.
Of us and of themselves.
No more usury. No more willingness to be used.
Gosh Alex, the mind reels when you begin recalling the cases of corruption and downright violence, not to mention lack of sophistication in the democratic process, as it concerns the Indo-Canadian community. I was once a scrutineer for the Reform Party I think it was, in a federal election, and the only trouble I found in Surrey where I then lived was that the Indo men would escort their wives, sisters and mothers etc., behind the polls on the pretense of “translating for them”. This was of course B.S. and I put in a complaint that was enough for the election officer to at least attempt to put a stop to it, though I’m sure it continues when not contested. Nor was I naive enough to think they may have been voting Reform. All the Parties are guilty of cow-towing to the cultural vote, going so far as to place the turbaned head, the coloured skinned, and the female voter in the line of the camera shots. It must be embarrassing to those new Canadians who may get lumped in with some of the most egregious scammers among them.
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Of course.
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Very good comment. Reminds me of when I was running a nomination meeting. One lady presented her Indian passport as identification. I said to her it would not be accepted. Her son had a bit of a cow over that one. But stood my ground. Said only Canadian government and BC government issued ID is acceptable, plus went through some other acceptable ID that she could use, and gave her and son the idea that there was still lots of time left to register.
I’ve seen all kinds of attemps of invocation of “special privilege”. One Indo Canadian lady figured I would extend registration hours because she had to be somewhere else and couldn’t get back and wanted her ballot now (we had a rule of distributing ballots after speeches, not before).
Told her she had a choice. Stay for the speeches and get a ballot,
or go to her other event. Her choice.
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And to think this STILL happens…it’s appalling.
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I think a lot of it goes back to the type of politics that is normal in South Asia. People say that politics in BC is a blood sport well politics in India and neighboring countries is a death sport.
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True enough.
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You’re a better man than I Gunga Alex to publish such inconvenient truths. Hunker down for incoming accusations by the usual suspects of being a racist, a “bad Canadian,” a clueless Northern Bubba etc.
Change is problematic because Caucasian party leaders see oodles of potential votes up for grabs as the once monolithic ethnic bloc no longer automatically pledges fealty to the Liberals. Be it Chretien, Martin and Harper (federally) or Harcourt, Clark and Campbell (B.C.) the temptation is to avert gazing at any unseemly behaviour by “star” ethnic candidates and their zealous organizers.
Campbell, in particular, should be ashamed of how he courted Heed in the face of serious allegations about the ethics and judgment of the then West Vancouver police chief. To that end, Gordo sacrificed a very good
man by using dubious polling to persuade A-G Wally Oppal to give his
safe Vancouver seat to novice Heed and instead run (and lose) in South Delta.
Finally, you’re correct about the widespread media coverage of the sliming brochures aimed at Heed’s NDP opponent in the final weeks of the campaign. Kash either is incuriously incompetent for not following campaign controversies in those waning days of the election or he’s inhabiting Whopperville now.
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Much appreciation for your kind words.
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Can be said to be “temple poltics” (a label that was given to me by more than one person).
But the aspect of these organisers be they Indo Canadian or white, is power. I’ve seen exhorbitant attempts of playing the power play to earn political points and prestige, under the veneer of being labelled “competent”. Some worked out very well for everyone and the party, others ended up being a disaster.
In regards to Kash Heed, the recent chain of events is leading me to believe that the origin is not him personally, but rather one of his key campaign people who knows how to work the details of a campaign
(not that hard to learn if you’ve been around a few campaigns), and
in so doing badly calculated the outcome.
Problem is always coming back to influence. It doesn’t matter if it is the Indo Canadian community, or the boys sitting around the table at the Masonic Lodge, or the brothers in a room at the local branch of the Knights of Columbus.
Also think back to the days of The Zalm. Many instances of the Fundamentalists wanting to get their influence in which turned out to be a disaster of Biblical porportions.
No wonder people don’t get involved in politics as a volunteer to serve their city, their province and their country. They see the excessive power plays (more power plays than you’d see in Game 5 Canucks vs. The Kings), and wonder why bother?
I don’t hold many organisers in high regard because they are just there for their own self-interest and not the party. Seen that many times.
Is it really sensible to influence a nomination meeting for one favoured person who isn’t worth much community wise, or is it sensible to influence a nomination meeting because a certain group wants “one of their own kind”? I’d say no.
The South Asian community should clean up its act. I’ve gotten to know many outstanding people within, but there are too many who as you say want to exert influence and win political credits.
And as a friend who also knows the South Asian community it can
and sometimes does get down to “temple politics”.
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That’s the problem: The cliques and temple politics and nonsense that should mean NOTHING in this country.
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Political Correctness has served the BC and Federal Liberals well over the decades.
BC’s “Pacific Rim Elite” make fine storm-troopers for third rate Grits and their star-candidates looking to become Canada’s newest ON-THE-TAKE public money royalty.
Yet the Grits have never mastered keeping their ethnic “SA” in-line and I guess we should be thankful that these violent clowns have never learned that too, since BC’s ruling elite would no longer be coming from Point Grey and Quadra . . . but would be ruling from Surrey or Richmond, and the Temple with the biggest membership.
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I think it’s political pandering and it’s disgusting. There are VERY honourable people in the South Asian community that are just too afraid to speak up. It’s ridiculous. They have so much to offer but allow these idiots and brutes front row. Imagine: Sihota, of all tarnished fools, to be NDP Prezzie. Lord above…
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Hi Alex, Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people would vote for the best candidate, regardless of ethnic background or party affiliation? Just dreaming!
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My dream is your dream pal. But not when things are as they are.
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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people would vote for the best candidate, regardless of ethnic background or party affiliation? Just dreaming!
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It will never happen as it’s just not our system you vote (or dont vote) for the leader through whatever “schmuck” is running.
As much as it has its flaws, looking at whats happening in the US right now I think it’s the better system. The only tweak I would have (besides an elected senate) is to make non confidence votes few and far between and allow the elected to just not be lemmings that are whipped into place but intelligent representatives who votes their mind and not always the party line (goes for all parties)
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Wil you STOP calling them INDO CANADIANS> Look at all the names.. every single one is SIKH. NO HINDUS INVOLVED>
I know we all look the same to you people, but if you’re gonna lay blame .. for heaven’s sake lay it in the right place. PUNJAB where Sikhs come from has the highest corruption index in India, and for some reason you people chose to bring the lion’s share from that region,, why are u surprised at the result?
Incidentally, our organization is against all immigration to Canada PERIOD, because of the inept way Liberals imported (mostly) Sikhs and Muslims here. We have published recently an article .. SLAM THE DOOR ON IMMIGRATION .. viewable at canhindu dot com .
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Hello Mr. Patel: I apologize if you were offended. I will have a new post on this topic in the next couple of days. And good for you and your organization fro taking the stand you have. I completely agree with you.
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Agree! But “you people”? Egads do us White Anglo-Saxon Protestants get lumped in with those awful Greek people (who once held Olympic games in the nude?) or worse those Ned Flanders like
Fundamentalists?
Sorry Alex, came out.
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ROTFLMAO!!! THAT was a very funny comment! 10/10! And, yes, I found the “you people” a bit much, but he was upset…it’s understandable. Great stuff.
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Wow Mr Naresh..!! What a fake personality dude..!! Searched a lot on internet and in some magazines. Is really Punjab the most corrupt state? Are Sikhs and Muslims the most corrupt people? I mean ….really?? And all the people who are giving a pat on ur back here, do they know something what u r trying to manipulate here? Just see the amount of ahte ur organisation is spreading against Sikhs and Muslims in Canada. Isnt that a corruption too? Isnt that a scam, to spread lies, to spread hate in a wonderful society? On the one hand you are praising Hinduism and on the other hand u r ballasting other faiths like anything. whats that dude? I smell scam here. and one more thing. The BIGGEST Scammers and corrupt leaders in India are…Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rajeev Gandhi, Dayanidhi Maaran, Karunanidhi, J. Jayalalitha, Mayawati, Suresh Kalmadi …and the list goes on. Is there ANY SINGLE “NON-HINDU” in this list. Is there any one MUSLIM or SIKH here? Stop ur blame game here for God’s sake and come to the point. And I request all Canadians here, Dont act like sheep. Use ur brains. U have all the resources. Why dont u search on ur own? why do u let these ” sugar coated fundamentalists ” manipulate ur thoughts?
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Question: Wasn’t Moe Sihota calling the Motor Carrier Commission on behalf of Herb Dhaliwal and his limo license to YVR?
I think that the issues that you have raised have more to do with immaturity and inexperience than a perceived cultural dynamic.
Behind every puppet political organizer are people pulling the strings.
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1) Yes, Mr. Dhaliwal owned half the limo company in question but he was emphatic during the investigation, that he never counseled Mr. Sihota to call the quasi-judicial commission–nor was he pleased about it post facto.
2) I think you’re wrong. This is a problem that predominates in Sikh politics. And it must stop now. I will have a follow-up post in a few days.
3) If you are suggesting that all the above events were a result of the offenders listening to overzealous campaign organizers, then you need to work at the upper levels of a campaign to see what it’s like. This is a problem in their community and I’d like to help them to solve it.
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Naresh, thank you for the link you provided! I’ve read a number of articles on it, and learned much. Now saved to my Important to Read bookmarks, I look forward to learning more from that site in the future. Thank you for your clarification!
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I think you are quite prescient, Alex.
The headline in today’s Sun involving certain organizers in the Sikh community and their veiled threats against Dave Hayer and Ujal Dosangh ahead of this weekend’s Vaisakhi parade in Surrey are appalling.
It’s time to have an open conversation in the community about what is going on here. There is no place for this kind of behaviour in Canada.
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Thank you my dear, yes, the fact that we are having a discussion about such potential for violence is disgusting.
My column has spurred much discussion with MANY members of the Sikh community whom have contacted me to offer their help and thanks!
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Good call Naresh, you make a very valid point I think, and knowing Alex, I’m sure your thoughts will be very much welcome here, by everyone.
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Absolutely they will.
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Hi Alex,
I understand you apologizing to Naresh Patel above since he took offense to your post, however I actually find his comments as the racist ones.
Clearly there are problems between Sikhs and Hindus, well illustrated by his writings above. Air India is of course the absolute worst example of this.
I don’t see how a Hindu suggesting that his people are more law abiding than any Sikh is helpful to the overall situation between the two groups. Isn’t Punjab still a part of India? That would make them all Indo-Canadians would it not?
It only drives home the point that until they can figure this out amongst themselves that its going to continue being the mess that it is.
If we put things into another perspective, I don’t think comments made by others about skinheads “hating Jews” are directed at me because I’m white, male and bald. Nor do I think referring to the problems as Indo-Canadian, gives Hindus a bad name.
I’m also not about to study immigration patterns from all the countries where Canada’s immigrants come from, and then sub-divide them into specific demographics to ensure that when a discussion on problems ensues, that I target a certain subset of that population because that group is “the problem”. I believe this same behavior has resulted in the senseless slaughter of Gypsies and Albanians to name two.
As far as I’m concerned Naresh Patel’s comments here are more of the same racist blather that comes out of that group and that you’ve written on above. He’s just chosen to direct it towards his fellow people than point it outwards. I believe the democrats in the US are doing this to redneck Alaskans and hillbillies right now.
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I apologized because he was offended and I certainly did not intend to do that. But I did, like you, find his rhetoric a little too laden with polemics. The ‘Us vs. You Guys’ notion doesn’t really sit well with me and I will comment more on this likely tonight but certainly by tomorrow. Thx for stopping by.
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Punjab being apart of India. Yes and no.After partition of lands that created Pakistan and many states of India into countries lke Bangledesh, Nepal etc. Punjab got divided into couple of jigsaw pieces. Half of punjab is in Pakistan and I think 4 pieces into India and three pieces eventually renaming it state/province name. So if someone sas they are punjab ask them if they are Indian or Pakistani.
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Love all of them, regardless.
I’m colour blind when it comes to nationality or sect, whatever.
I have been to India once and it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I found Bangalore beautiful and Baroda too. Delhi was a little trying but still a beautiful country with good people.
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“There is no place for this kind of behaviour in Canada.”
Really? It seems to go on without anything much being done except a bit of hand-wringing. “Welcome to Multiculti Land! Don’t worry, ‘we people’ wouldn’t dream of expecting you to fit in. Blow up a plane? Parade your terrorists through the streets? Kill your wife/daughter/sister because your ‘honor’ requires it? We’ll make sure there’s no trouble. Hey, its all just part of life’s rich pageant, right”
I’ll believe “there is no place for this kind of behaviour in Canada” when it actually stops, and I’m not holding my breath.
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Very well said. It troubles me how tolerant we are with crime under the silly (and paper-thin) guise of “cultural diversity”
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Despite being twice as large, and being more firmly established the Chinese community has failed to achieve the political gains the Indo-Canadian community has.
I think it’s time for the Chinese community, and in fact all minorities to learn from Indo-Canadians on how Canadian politics really work, despite what people who are jealous of Indo-Canadian political success would have you believe otherwise.
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Oh really? That politics should be practiced with a gun if voter fraud doesn’t work? Foolish person. There are wonderful people in the Indo-Canadian community that are ill-represented by the extremists in their community.
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lol @ “foolish person”. That’s a very articulate and well reasoned response
AGT, you’ll have to make up your mind. Do you want to talk about specific incidents, or about things in general? To take a specific instance and extend that to the situation in general butchers logical. Decide which you want to talk about.
I want to talk about the general situation. No minority group has seen the political success that Indo-Canadians have seen in the history of the province.
Remember, Indo-Canadians are 5 and some odd % of the population of BC.
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Dear Really Foolish Person:
Can you articulate the success you claim?
Rahim Jaffer? Moe Sihota? Kash Heed?
Get a grip. Winning at ANY price needs to stop. You’re part of the problem.
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Haha, I’m personally part of the problem? I’m flattered that you’d give little old anonymous me so much credit
Scandals are a part of politics. If I didn’t have anything better to do, I’d rattle a long list of non Indian politicians who went down in flames. When a group has so many of their own hold office, there will be some scandals.
Name a more successful minority. Name some other minority that has had one of their own hold the highest political office in the province.
All minorities who are interested in having their concerns represented should look to the Indo-Canadian community as a model.
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Oh of course! A minority with 5% of the population should be proud of such a disproportionate number of brutal scandals. Absolutely, what was I thinking?
Listen, go sell crazy elsewhere. You’ve had your fill.
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Hi Alex You know my views on Jonathan Ross and why I detest him so much. Ross is not Indo-Canadian so don’t give him the dignity to be apart of the indian community. No wonder he got divorced 6 months after he got married. Ross uses the Indian community like toilet tissue. Ask the well known indian photographer Chandra to check the facts. Ross was married to his daughter.
Regards GS Dhesi
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Thanks you my friend. Yes, Ross is a maggot. I knew Chandra was his father-in-law.
Take good care of yourself.
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