Business as usual at Indian eateries in Canada

Peeyush Agnihotri

In the midst of whodunnit, it’s business as usual at Indian eateries in Canada though many are not happy with the way the restaurant blast was handled by South Asian media, especially back home. Fifteen persons were injured in a blast that occurred at a popular food joint, Bombay Bhel, in Mississauga, Ontario, in late May.

Quoting media reports, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice Bill Blair had said “at this time there is no indication of a nexus to national security”. That did not stop rumour mill from working overtime.

The police are tight-lipped about the suspects, one of whom may be a woman, according to them, and are yet to attribute a motive behind the crude explosive device going off. Diverse and mainstream communities are propounding various theories, including, but not limited to drugs, personal enmity, politics or radicalisation. Some faith-based entities even condemned the slanging match that played out as an aftermath. Wikipedia has already put this blast under “International Terrorism” sub-head.

In the backdrop of all the sparring, what truly stands out is the fact that no one is giving it a damn at food joints, eateries and restaurants. Canadians are doing what they do best — sip beer, watch hockey, merrily dine out and leave it to law-enforcing authorities. “They’ll get ‘em. No worries,” is how a Canuck reposes faith in the police and detectives.

Danny Fox, a visitor from Ohio and a self-confessed lover of butter chicken, has a more philosophical take on this. “Life is fragile. If you must die or get hurt, you may be done in a road mishap. Gastric juices and adrenalin (due to that nagging fear on mind) don’t gel well,” he mutters while sipping ale at a popular restaurant’s patio.

Canada is home to diverse population from different faiths. Dining out is a way of life and Indian food is hugely popular in Canada.

“I love (Indian) food. That mishap on the east coast is not going to deter me from eating out. How do we know it’s not personal enmity or drugs? 

Life goes on and I will keep visiting my favourite Indian restaurant for samosa platter,” says a giggling Chione Khoury, in Arabic-accented English. “But let Ramzan be over,” she quickly adds.

“Bad elements are everywhere. Blasts have happened at places of worship too. Did that deter people from thronging faith-based institutions? No. Ditto for food joints,” says Mansur Rafih, owner of a small family-owned eatery. He agrees that he sells lesser donair these days but attributes lower sales to Ramzan instead of that fear factor. “It will pick up next month after Id, Inshallah, he says, while looking skywards.

Ontario is set to go to elections this month and Canada is looking at the federal election in 2019. The cause of the blast may have a ripple effect on the poll outcome.