New Delhi: Upholding the right to practice religion “freely and safely”, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday described the violence at a Hindu temple near Toronto as “unacceptable”.
Heavy police force was deployed at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton after some leaders accused Sikh activists of attacking them. In a viral video, some people were seen breaking the gate of the temple and attacking devotees inside the premises.
No arrests have been made, a Peel Regional Police spokesperson told AFP. Police have also refused to blame anyone for the alleged violence.
Canadian MP Chandra Arya said the incident shows how “deep and brazen” violent extremism has become in Canada. “Hindu-Canadians must come forward to claim their rights and hold politicians accountable for the safety and security of our community,” the member of Trudeau’s Liberal Party wrote. He also alleged that extremist elements have infiltrated both Canada’s political system and law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called for those responsible for the violence to be punished “to the greatest extent of the law.” “Religious freedom is a foundational value in Canada. Everyone should feel safe in their place of worship,” he wrote in a post on X.
While Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre promised to unite people and end the chaos, Toronto MP Kevin Vuong asserted that “Canada has become a safe harbour for radicals”. Sharing a post on X, Vuong wrote, “Our leaders have failed to protect Hindus as they have protected Christian and Jewish Canadians from violence. We all deserve to worship in peace.” The violence comes amid an ongoing strain on diplomatic ties between India and Canada, including the expulsion of diplomats. On Saturday, Ottawa described New Delhi as a cyber threat, suggesting state-sponsored actors may be spying against it.
The action comes after Canada accused the Indian government of plotting to murder Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old naturalised Canadian citizen who was a prominent Khalistan activist, in Vancouver in 2023. It has also accused India of directing a broad campaign targeting Sikh activists on Canadian soil, which Ottawa says has included threats, intimidation and violence.
Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor was vandalised with anti-India graffiti, drawing widespread condemnation and calls for action from both Canadian and Indian authorities. Temples were similarly targeted in earlier incidents in Mississauga and Brampton, drawing strong reactions from the Indian community in Canada.
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