India’s excessive fee in Canada is condemning violence that erupted Sunday as Indian consular officers visited a Hindu temple within the Toronto suburb of Brampton.
Movies circulating on social media seem to indicate demonstrators holding banners in assist of a separate Sikh nation known as Khalistan clashing with others, together with some holding India’s nationwide flag.
The movies appear to indicate fist fights and folks placing one another with poles in what seems to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
The group Sikhs for Justice stated Khalistan supporters had been protesting the presence of Indian consulate officers enterprise an introduced go to to supply administrative providers equivalent to serving to seniors entry pensions.
In a launch, India’s excessive fee stated plans for additional visits to temples could be contingent on safety preparations from native authorities to guard the protection of officers, organizers and attendees.
“It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organized by our Consulates,” the embassy stated in a press release posted to social media.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre and NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh all wrote Sunday on the platform X that they condemn the violence that occurred on the temple.
“Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely,” Trudeau wrote.
Poilievre “unequivocally” condemned “violence targeting worshippers” on the temple, including he would “end the chaos.” Singh additionally “unequivocally” condemned the violence.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote that the violence was “completely unacceptable and must be condemned.”
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown stated he was “disappointed to hear about acts of violence” exterior the temple.
“Those found guilty should be punished to the greatest extent of the law,” he wrote on X.
A spokesman for Peel Regional Police, which oversees regulation enforcement in Brampton, stated no person had been arrested or charged in relation to the protests, however stated police will probe “any acts of violence or threats.”
Sikhs for Justice alleged Hindu nationalists had provoked the preventing and has claimed Indian officers use visits to non secular websites to seek out informants to focus on Sikh separatists. The Indian excessive fee in Ottawa didn’t instantly reply to the claims.
The group is asking that Indian consular officers be barred from enterprise work exterior of their diplomatic premises, arguing exterior website visits “directly endanger the safety and security of pro-Khalistan citizens in Canada.”
However Liberal MP Chandra Arya accused “Canadian Khalistani extremists” of attacking Hindus, saying they’re “getting a free pass in Canada.”
The clashes come as Hindus rejoice the Diwali vacation and amid mounting tensions between Canada and India.
Final month, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations they used their positions to gather info on Canadians within the pro-Khalistan independence motion after which handed the main points on to felony gangs who focused the people instantly.
India has lengthy accused Canada of harbouring pro-Khalistan terrorists that New Delhi has requested Ottawa to extradite, although Canadian officers say these requests typically lack sufficient proof.
Tensions haven’t been confined to Ontario.
This previous Friday, a choose with British Columbia’s Supreme Courtroom granted an order to determine a buffer zone round one of many province’s largest Sikh temples upfront of anticipated confrontations between protesters and Indian consular officers this weekend.
The request got here from leaders of a Sikh temple who stated they anticipated “intense protests” at two Indian consular occasions, generally often called “consular camps.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 3, 2024.
