New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned the attack on a Hindu temple in Canada’s Brampton by a group of Khalistan extremists. PM Modi also hit out at the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian Government for its “cowardly attempts” to intimidate Indian diplomats.
Notably, it was the Prime Minister first reaction on the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada. "I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. 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," PM Modi said in his X post.
PM Modi's Tweet:
I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 4, 2024
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also condemned the alleged attack on the Hindu temple.
"We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario yesterday. We call on the Government of Canada to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks. We also expect that those indulging in violence will be prosecuted. We remain deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
"The outreach of our Consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens alike will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence," he added.
Alleged Attack On Hindu Temple:
A pro-Khalistani mob attacked a group of devotees, including women and children, at a Hindu Temple in Canada on Sunday. The video of the incident shows fist fights and people striking each other with poles on what appears to be the grounds surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple. This incident disrupted a consular event co-organised by the Hindu Sabha Mandir and the Indian consulate.
The Peel Police personnel were deployed outside the temple to maintain order as pro-Khalistani sympathisers attacked Hindu temple goers.
However, in a video shared by Daniel Bordman on X, Peel Police personnel can be seen using force on temple goers. According to Bordman, the security personnel, "punched" and "beat them with batons". However, Times Now Digital could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
In the video, a woman can be seen pointing out an officer, accusing him of assaulting and targeting only Hindu community members. As the situation escalated, the crowd chanted "take him out" and "get out," with tensions running high outside the temple grounds.
The attack comes amid the ongoing diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, while India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
The diplmatic ties between India and Canada deteriorated last year in September after Trudeau while addressing Parliament alleged India's role in Nijjar's killing. However, India rejected the Canadian PM's charges. So far Canada has not shared any evidence backing its allegations.