NEW DELHI: The “deliberate assault” on a Hindu temple in Canada sparked sturdy condemnation in India on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the Canadian authorities to make sure justice and uphold the rule of legislation. Political events and non secular organisations in India additionally demanded that the Canadian authorities take steps to make sure that such incidents should not repeated.
The incident occurred in Brampton, the place protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with individuals on the Hindu Sabha temple on Sunday and disrupted a consular occasion co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate. New Delhi mentioned it stays “deeply involved” in regards to the security and safety of Indian nationals in Canada whereas Prime Minister Modi additionally flayed the “cowardly makes an attempt” to intimidate Indian diplomats.
I strongly condemn the deliberate assault on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly makes an attempt to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence won’t ever weaken India’s resolve. We count on the Canadian authorities to make sure justice and uphold the rule of legislation.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 4, 2024
The event comes as India-Canada ties stay deeply troubled over the North American nation’s alleged assist to Khalistani separatists and its accusation of India’s involvement within the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who has been designated a terrorist by India. In a publish on X, Modi mentioned, “I strongly condemn the deliberate assault on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly makes an attempt to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence won’t ever weaken India’s resolve.” He added, “We count on the Canadian authorities to make sure justice and uphold the rule of legislation.” Official sources famous that that is the primary assertion by Modi because the current stoop in India-Canada ties.
In an announcement, the Ministry of Exterior Affairs mentioned it expects that these indulging in violence shall be prosecuted and referred to as on the federal government of Canada to make sure that all locations of worship are shielded from such assaults. “We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists on the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario yesterday. We name on the federal government of Canada to make sure that all locations of worship are shielded from such assaults,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was quoted as saying within the assertion.
“We additionally count on that these indulging in violence shall be prosecuted. We stay deeply involved in regards to the security and safety of Indian nationals in Canada. The outreach of our consular officers to offer companies to Indians and Canadian residents alike is not going to be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence,” he mentioned.
The opposition Congress mentioned the acts of violence perpetrated by pro-Khalistani components have been”completely condemnable” and urged the federal government to take up the difficulty “very strongly” with the Canadian authorities. The Congress in no unsure phrases criticises what occurred there, the celebration’s media and publicity division head Pawan Khera mentioned.
“We urge the federal government of India to take up this subject very strongly with the Canadian authorities. Nobody will be allowed to disrupt any devotee from going right into a temple,” he mentioned in a video assertion. The devotees have been harassed by pro-Khalistani components and the Canadian police was additionally seen making an attempt to bodily cease devotees from a counter-protest as an alternative of taking motion towards the pro-Khalistani components, the Congress chief mentioned.
Punjab’s ruling celebration AAP additionally strongly condemned the incident.
In an announcement issued by the Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP), its senior chief and cupboard minister Aman Arora mentioned your complete Punjab is shocked by the assault on the Hindu temple in Canada. “Punjab is a secular state and violence based mostly on faith is just not a part of its tradition. Even throughout the darkish days of terrorism within the 1980s and 90s, there was no violence on non secular grounds. “Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab stay collectively like household and have coexisted peacefully,” mentioned Arora.
Punjab is thought for its brotherhood and social concord, and other people from all communities are upset by this incident, he mentioned. He urged the Union authorities to boost this subject with the Canadian authorities so as to be sure that such incidents don’t occur once more. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the incident, saying each Canadian has the fitting to practise their religion freely and safely.
Nevertheless, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu focused Trudeau over the temple assault, accusing the Canadian prime minister of dividing the Indian diaspora for his “soiled politics”. “Justin Trudeau has efficiently divided the Indian diaspora in Canada for his soiled politics. Sikhs and Hindus stay collectively in concord in India however they’re being pitched towards one another in Canada. I extremely condemn the assault on the temple or any non secular place of worship by Trudeau’s Khalistani components,” the BJP chief mentioned He alleged that the Canadian police have been standing in assist of the Khalistani components.
“Temples have been being attacked. And no one is able to cease them. How might they chant slogans and overtly discuss Khalistan? It is not going to be tolerated,” he mentioned. “These are some individuals (Khalistani components) whom you might be utilizing. They’re in your payroll,” Bittu mentioned. After the incident, the Excessive Fee of India in Ottawa issued an announcement on Monday condemning the assault.
The ruling BJP asserted that the celebration and its authorities have at all times taken “powerful steps” each time it involves the persecution of Hindus or the infringement of their rights. “We have now seen how strongly and clearly a agency reply has been given to Canada whereas displaying India’s power,” BJP nationwide spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia mentioned at a press convention on the celebration headquarters in Delhi when requested in regards to the incident. He mentioned the BJP and its authorities take “powerful steps” each time it involves persecution of Hindus or infringement of their rights.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad alleged that the Indian consulate’s prior request to the Canadian administration to offer safety was “deliberately” ignored. VHP worldwide president Alok Kumar mentioned the assault was a explanation for concern, extra so as a result of a consular camp had been organised by the Indian consulate on the temple.
“We do imagine that this can be slightly intentional,” he mentioned, including, “We condemn the assault”. The Indian consulate had knowledgeable the police in regards to the occasion three days in the past and particularly mentioned that in view of the safety surroundings in Canada, satisfactory safety was required for the camp and the temple, he mentioned.
“The request was ignored,” Kumar mentioned, including that it was not the primary time {that a} Hindu temple in Canada had been attacked. On Sunday, Peel Regional Police mentioned {that a} protest occurred on the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton and unverified movies circulating on social media appeared to indicate demonstrators holding banners in assist of Khalistan, Canadian Broadcasting Company reported. The movies confirmed fist fights and other people placing one another with poles on what seems to be the grounds surrounding the temple, the report added.
