India has condemned the violent incidents at a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, that were attributed to extremists and separatists. The Ministry of External Affairs called for more protection of all places of worship in Canada and wanted the perpetrators of such brutal acts to be prosecuted.
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said,
“The Indian government is deeply concerned about the safety of Indian citizens in Canada.” He added, “The efforts to provide consular services to Indian and Canadian citizens will continue.”.
The case at the Brampton temple, where police and protesters clashed, is of a serious nature. In this regard, a video published by journalist Daniel Bordman appears to feature a policeman confronting protesters as tensions arise over an incident that took place at the temple on Diwali.
The Indian High Commission had earlier sought greater security for the consular camp held at the temple, citing concerns over the safety of Indian nationals after what it described as a “violent disruption.” Indo-Canadian MP Chandra Arya said the violence was the handiwork of Khalistani extremists and that the incident marked a disturbing rise in extremism.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the actions “unacceptable.” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the perpetrators should receive “serious penalties.” He said religious freedom must be maintained in Canada. So far, the local police said, no one has been arrested on suspicion.
This latest violence takes place amidst heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, including the expulsion of diplomats from both countries. Ottawa recently labeled India a cyber threat, which India has firmly rejected. Reacting to this, Jaiswal said that allegations of this nature seem part of Canada’s bigger strategy to belittle India’s global stature.
The diplomatic tussle continues after an earlier this year incident between Canada and India over the involvement of Indian agents in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination, a known Khalistani activist, on Vancouver streets. This brings up a series of a similar attack on Hindu temples across Canada, including this particular one in Windsor last year. It has been followed by calls for action for the Indian and Canadian Governments to take action.
