Deliberate attack on temple: PM asks Canada to ensure justice
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the attack on a temple by a pro-Khalistani mob in Canada and asked the government there to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.
In a post on X, Modi also flayed the “cowardly attempts” to intimidate Indian diplomats. He said, “I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve.”
Editorial: Trouble in canada
“We expect the Canadian Government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law,” he added. Official sources noted that this is the first statement by PM Modi since the recent slump in India-Canada ties over the North American country’s alleged support to Khalistani separatists and its accusation of India’s involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Khalistani separatist who had been designated a terrorist by India. Modi’s post came just hours after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also condemned the violence at the Hindu temple and said it was perpetrated by “extremists and separatists”.
“We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario, yesterday,” the MEA statement said, adding that the “Government of Canada needs to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks”. It went on to seek prosecution against those indulging in violence.
The incident occurred in Brampton, where protesters carrying Khalistani flags clashed with devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple on Sunday and disrupted a consular event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate.
The incident prompted widespread condemnation from various political leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who condemned the attack.
Trudeau wrote, “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practise their faith freely and safely. Thank the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident.”
Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya strongly condemned the attack on the temple, saying a “red line has been crossed” by Khalistani extremists.
Taking to X, he wrote, “The attack by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees shows how deep and brazen Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada. I begin to feel that there is a small grain of truth in the reports that in addition to Canadian political apparatus, Khalistanis have effectively infiltrated into our law-enforcement agencies.”
Strongly objecting to such attacks, Kevin Vuong, Toronto MP, asserted, “Canada has become a safe harbour for radicals”. Following the attacks, the Hindu Canadian Foundation, a non-profit organisation, shared a video of the attack on X, saying that, “Kids, women, and men are being attacked. This is all happening under the support of Khalistani politician sympathisers.”
Prosecute the attackers: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs has said it condemns the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario, and expects that those indulging in violence will be prosecuted. It asked the Canadian Government to ensure that all places of worship were protected from such attacks.
