E-Paper
40% Canadians say Sikhism among India’s top two religions
A poll done in Canada ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in the country’s capital, Ottawa, shows that the majority of Canadians, 71% of the sample, have a mostly favourable or very favourable view of India.
A poll done in Canada ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in the country’s capital, Ottawa, shows that the majority of Canadians, 71% of the sample, have a mostly favourable or very favourable view of India.
While most respondents replied correctly that Hinduism was among the two major religions in India, nearly 40% identified Sikhism as among the top two, while only 25% opted for Islam. The institute stated in the release:
“While Sikhs do comprise a significant swath of the Indian community in Canada, they are not more than 2% of the actual Indian population.”
Meanwhile, even as this is the first visit by an Indian PM to the country in 43 years, only 22% of the respondents could identify Modi when shown his photograph, even after the mainstream Canadian media’s highlighting the visit in recent days. Just 21% of those born in Canada could tell it was Modi, while nearly half (49%) of those born abroad succeeded in identifying him.
The online survey by Vancouver-based public opinion research organisation Angus Reid Institute between April 8 and 10 included a randomised sample of nearly 1,500 respondents.
A press release noted: “They (the respondents) see India’s economic growth as an opportunity for Canada, but still say our diplomatic efforts should be placed on China first.”
