NEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday condemned the attack on Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton by alleged Khalistani extremists and said that every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely .
In a widely circulated video, a violent group of men were seen wielding sticks and attacking devotees outside the temple. The mob was also sen carrying flags associated with with pro-Khalistani groups.
According to the community organisation Hindu Canadian Foundation, women and children were also attacked in the violent mob.
Taking to X, Trudeau thanked the local authorities for the swift response to protect the community and probe this incident.
“The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely,” Trudeau said.
“Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident,” he added.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and Canadian MP Chandra Arya also condemned the incident and called it “completely unacceptable.”
Poilievre further said that the Conservatives condemned the attack and promised to unite the people and end the chaos.
“Completely unacceptable to see violence targeting worshippers at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today,” the opposition leader said.
“All Canadians should be free to practice their faith in peace. Conservatives condemn this violence unequivocally. I will unite our people and end the chaos,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chandra Arya condemned the violence and said that under the ‘freedom of expression‘ extremists are getting a free pass in Canada.
Attacking Trudeau administration, Arya further said that he started believing that there is a small grain of truth in the reports that in addition to Canadian political apparatus, Khalistanis have effectively infiltrated into Canada’s law enforcement agencies.
“A red line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists today. The attack by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees inside the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton shows how deep and brazen has 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,” he said in a post on X.
” No wonder that under the ‘freedom of expression’ Khalistani extremists are getting a free pass in Canada. As I have been saying for long, Hindu-Canadians, for the security and safety of our community, need to step up and asserts their rights and hold politicians accountable,” he added.
Peel Regional Police are investigating the incident and said they were aware of the protest taking place in the northeast end of the city.
“While we respect the individual rights to protest as per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, our duty and responsibility remains to maintain public order and ensure the safety of everyone,” the statement reads.
The recent attack adds to a string of similar incidents documented in recent years, underscoring a distressing trend of religious intolerance.
In July, Arya had voiced deep concern over the violence directed at Hindu-Canadian communities. In a post on X, he wrote, “The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalised again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada are being vandalised with hateful graffiti.”
Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor suffered defacement with anti-India graffiti, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for action from both Canadian and Indian officials. Earlier incidents in Mississauga and Brampton saw temples similarly targeted, drawing strong reactions from the Indian community in Canada
