Ottawa: Amid the ongoing diplomatic row with India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the first time acknowledged the presence of Khalistan supporters in Canada. Trudeau made these remarks during Diwali celebrations at Ottawa’s Parliament Hill recently.
"There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. Similarly, there are supporters of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians," Trudeau said as reported by PTI.
The Canadian PM's remarks came days after a Hindu temple in Brampton was attacked by Khalistani extremists. A pro-Khalistani mob attacked a group of devotees, including women and children, at a Hindu Temple in Canada on November 3. 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.
On Wednesday, Trudeau broke his silence over recent incidents of violence in the country. However, Trudeau did not talk about the attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton by Khalstani extremists. While addressing Parliament, the Canadian PM said that those who participated in the violence did not represent the country's Hindu or Sikh community.
In his address, Trudeau did not mention about Khalistani groups and tagged both Hindus and Sikhs as South Asian communities. "The violence we have seen in South Asian communities across the country over the past few nights, let me be very clear. The individuals who are inciting violence and division and hatred in no way represent either the Sikh community or the Hindu community in Canada," Trudeau said.
India's Reaction:
PM Modi Condemned Attack On Hindu Temple:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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's first reaction to 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.
What MEA Said?
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 attack came 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.
India-Canada Diplomatic Row:
The diplomatic ties between India and Canada deteriorated last year in September after Trudeau alleged India's involvement in Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing. However, India rejected these charges as "absurd". So far Canada has not shared any evidence backing its allegations.
India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other "targeted" officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa's charges.
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.
(With inputs from PTI)