A protest by pro-Khalistan radicals in Canada turned violent on Sunday afternoon as they barged right into a Hindu temple close to Toronto and assaulted a number of congregants and disrupted a consular camp organised by the native Indian consulate.
The incident occurred at Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton city after pro-Khalistan protesters gathered outdoors the premises within the morning to oppose the presence of Indian officers, who had been there for the scheduled consular camp.
Additionally Learn: Video reveals ladies, youngsters crushed with sticks by Khalistanis at Canada temple
India’s excessive fee in Ottawa denounced the “violent disruption” that it stated was “orchestrated by anti-India components” and added that there have been comparable makes an attempt to disrupt comparable camps at Surrey and Vancouver. It stated in an announcement: “We additionally stay very involved for the security of candidates, together with Indian nationals, on whose demand such occasions are organised within the first place.”
The demonstrators, some holding Khalistan flags, turned violent. In line with eyewitnesses who spoke to Hindustan Occasions and movies of the incident, the protesters attacked a number of congregants contained in the temple advanced with flagpoles and site visitors cones.
Amongst these current on the temple was Mahavir, who stated: “They attacked our individuals, they had been violent.” He stated phrase rapidly unfold by the native Indian-origin group and members rushed to the temple to assist evict the trespassing Khalistanis.
“We had been fearful they wished to destroy the Hanuman statue. We imagine that was the goal,” Mahavir stated. The temple has a 55-foot statue of Hanuman that was put in final yr.
One other congregant, who whished to stay nameless resulting from fears of private security, stated those that joined them got here armed and helped repel the intruders who had desecrated the temple. “We needed to defend ourselves because the police couldn’t management them,” he stated. This resulted in accidents to some individuals.
After a big crowd of the congregants gathered, outnumbering the pro-Khalistani radicals, the latter dispersed within the afternoon. Members of the Indian-origin group gathered on the temple and shouted slogans similar to “Khalistan Murdabad”.
The assertion from the Indian excessive fee stated the Indian facet had requested Canadian authorities “nicely upfront” to supply robust safety for the consular camps being organised by Indian missions in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver due to the “prevailing safety state of affairs”.
“Regardless of these efforts by anti-India components, our Consulate was in a position to difficulty greater than 1000 life certificates to the Indian and Canadian candidates,” the assertion stated.
“In gentle of those incidents, and with the continued threats posed to the Indian diplomats and officers, native venue organisers in addition to native attendees, organisation of additional scheduled consular camps shall be contingent on safety preparations made for them by native authorities,” it added.
The assault got here at a time when India-Canada relations are at an all-time low due to Ottawa’s allegations concerning the Indian authorities being linked to efforts to focus on pro-Khalistan components on Canadian soil. Either side just lately expelled six diplomats every.
The assault additionally drew condemnation from throughout the political spectrum in Canada, together with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Get together chief and Chief of Opposition Pierre Poilievre, cupboard minister Anita Anand, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and a number of other MPs and different politicians.
Nonetheless, none of their messages named the perpetrators of the assaults, the pro-Khalistan radicals. That was left to Indo-Canadian Liberal Get together MP Chandra Arya, who stated, “A crimson line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists immediately. The assault by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees contained in the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton reveals how deep and brazen Khalistani violent extremism has change into in Canada.”
Brampton mayor Patrick Brown stated he’ll convey a movement earlier than the Metropolis Council “which might have a look at prohibiting protests at locations of worship”.
The assault got here two days after a message from Trudeau on Diwali that his authorities will “guarantee” the “security and safety” of Hindu-Canadians. His put up on Sunday omitted mentioning the Khalistani attackers, because it described the “act of violence” on the temple as “unacceptable”.
Poilievre issued the same message, saying the “violence concentrating on worshippers” was “utterly unacceptable”.
Responding to queries from Hindustan Occasions, Peel Regional Police (PRP) stated, “There have been no arrests made. Nonetheless any acts of violence and threats shall be investigated.”
PRP chief Nishan Duraiappah posted on social media, “We respect the proper to protest in a peaceable & secure method however is not going to tolerate violence & prison acts, people who do take part on this exercise shall be pursued, arrested & charged.”
Anger and outrage had been evident throughout the Indian-origin group because of the violence concentrating on a Hindu place of worship. The Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce stated in an announcement: “Movies of the incident are going viral, additional fuelling group issues about rising Hinduphobia.”
The Canadian chapter of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA) stated it “vehemently condemns this brazen assault by Khalistanis on Hindu-Canadian devotees”. It added, “This exposes how deep and unchecked Khalistani extremism runs in Canada.”
