Canadian cinema refuses to screen cricket match, Indian immigrants enraged: "Believe it or not, we'll blow this place to pieces!"

Lately, a group of Indian immigrants gathered in front of a convenience counter at a cinema in Canada. Some shouted at staff, while others slammed tables. In the video, a man wearing glasses issued a threat—to burn down the Cineplex cinema. They yelled at the staff: "You don't understand what's going on right now." Another man with glasses directly declared he would set the theater on fire. Reports also mention someone on site saying, "Believe it or not, we'll blow this place to pieces."

The Indian-Canadian population continues to grow. Official data shows that 27% of new immigrants admitted to Canada in 2022 came from India, and currently, people of Indian origin make up about 4% of Canada’s total population. Cricket is the “spiritual nourishment” for the Indian-origin community. Watching cricket and discussing cricket are vital ways they maintain cultural identity.

India has long had a caste system. Although legally abolished, the mindset remains deeply entrenched. In the traditional caste hierarchy, service jobs were considered occupations for the "untouchables" (Dalits). This mindset does not automatically vanish simply because one migrates to Canada.

Many Indian immigrants bring this hierarchical mindset into their new country. To them, cinema ticket agents and convenience store employees are merely low-level workers who serve others—people who can be scolded, insulted, or even threatened at will. Commentators point out that abusive treatment toward minimum-wage workers in the service industry is not uncommon in the Greater Toronto Area. This is not an isolated incident but rather a long-standing phenomenon.

The Indian-Canadian population continues to grow. The deeper issue lies in mindset. The hierarchical thinking rooted in the caste system won’t disappear automatically. As long as some Indian immigrants continue to view service workers as "untouchables," similar conflicts are unavoidable. This cannot be resolved simply by increasing police presence or installing surveillance cameras.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868478684701704/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.