PM Modi condemns ‘deliberate attack’ on Hindu temple in Canada

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned a "deliberate attack" on a Hindu temple in Canada, saying that he expected the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.

Taking a serious note of the clash between two groups of Indian-origin people inside the temple in Brampton, the Prime Minister said such acts of violence cannot “weaken” India’s resolve. 

Modi put out a post on X saying that “I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada”.

He added, “Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law”.

Modi’s post came just hours after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the violence at the temple and said it was perpetrated by “extremists and separatists”.

The MEA statement said, “We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario yesterday.”

It said the “Government of Canada needs to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks”. “We remain deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada,” it added.

Separately, on Monday morning, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa said its consular camp saw “violent disruption” on Sunday and blamed “anti-India” elements for the disruption.

The High Commission put out a statement on X: “We have seen violent disruption today (Nov 3) orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp co-organized with the Hindu Sabha Mandir, Brampton, near Toronto.”

The statement of the High Commission was posted on Monday morning (IST).

Such camps are for the benefit and ease of “local life certificate” beneficiaries (both Canadian and Indian), the High Commission said.

It also said that the Canadian authorities had been requested to provide security. “On account of the prevailing security situation, the Canadian authorities had been requested well in advance to provide strong security measures for these events, which constitute routine consular work”.

There were also attempts to disrupt similar camps held in Vancouver and Surrey on November 2-3, the statement said.

“Despite these efforts by anti-India elements, the Consulate was able to issue more than 1000 life certificates to the Indian and Canadian applicants”, the statement said.

The High Commission’s statement said: “It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organized by our Consulates with the fullest cooperation of local co-organizers”.

The MEA pitched in saying “the outreach of our Consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens alike will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence”.

The High Commission said it remained “very concerned” for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demand such events are organised.

The High Commission said in the past such consular camps have been conducted by the High Commission of India in Ottawa and Consulates General of India in Vancouver and Toronto.