Attack on devotees in Hindu temple of Canada, Justin Trudeau’s reaction

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday called violence at a Hindu temple near Toronto “unacceptable” while upholding the right to practice religion “freely and safely.”

Heavy police deployment was seen at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton after some leaders clashed with Sikh activists. In the video that went viral, some people were seen breaking the gates of the temple and attacking devotees inside the premises.

A spokesperson for Peel Regional Police told AFP that no arrests had been made. The police have also refused to assign blame for the alleged violence.

Canadian MP Chandra Arya said the incident shows how “deep and brazen” violent extremism has become in Canada. “To protect our community, Hindu-Canadians must come forward and claim their rights and hold politicians accountable,” the member of Trudeau’s Liberal Party wrote. He also alleged that extremist elements have infiltrated both Canada’s political system and law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called for those responsible for the violence to be punished “to the fullest extent of the law.” “Religious freedom is a fundamental value in Canada. Everyone should feel safe in their place of worship,” he wrote in a post on X.

While Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre promised to unite the people and end the lawlessness, Toronto MP Kevin Vuong insisted that “Canada has become a safe harbor for radicals”. Sharing a post on Twitter, Vuong wrote, “Our leaders are failing to protect Hindus as they have Christian and Jewish Canadians. We all deserve to worship in peace.”

The violence comes amid the ongoing diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, including the expulsion of diplomats. On Saturday, Ottawa designated New Delhi as a cyber threat adversary, suggesting state-sponsored actors may be carrying out espionage against it.

The action comes after Canada accused the Indian government of plotting the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Canadian citizen who was a prominent Khalistan activist, in Vancouver in 2023. It has also accused India of directing a sweeping campaign targeting Sikh activists on Canadian soil, which Ottawa says includes threats, intimidation and violence.

Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor was vandalized with anti-India graffiti, drawing widespread condemnation and calls for action from both Canadian and Indian officials. Earlier, temples in Mississauga and Brampton were also targeted in a similar manner, which drew a strong reaction from the Indian community in Canada.