The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on November 4 strongly condemned the attack on a Hindu temple in Canada by Khalistani extremists.
In a statement, VHP International Working President Alok Kumar said, “The attack on Hindu temple in Canada by Khalistani supporters is highly condemnable. A camp was organised there by the Indian Embassy. The Embassy had given prior information about this to the Government of Canada three days ago and had also requested for proper security but it was ignored”.
He said that on October 31, on the occasion of Diwali, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his statement had said, “Indo-Canadian represent the best of Canada”.
Trudeau had also said that “We will always stand with Hindu Canadians to ensure their safety so that they can freely and proudly practice their religion” but his statement proved to be hollow, Alok Kumar said.
Alok Kumar further said that this is not the first incident of attack on a temple in Canada. Even before this, Hindu temples were attacked in Greater Toronto, British Columbia and Brampton.
प्रेस वक्तव्य:
कनाडा में हिन्दू मंदिर पर हुए खालिस्तानी समर्थकों का हमला निंदनीय: आलोक कुमारनई दिल्ली। नवंबर 4, 2024। विश्व हिंदू परिषद के अंतरराष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री आलोक कुमार ने आज कहा है कि कनाडा में हिन्दू मंदिर पर खालिस्तानी समर्थकों द्वारा किया गया हमला बेहद निंदनीय है।…
— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) November 4, 2024
He said, “Justin Trudeau’s popularity has decreased in Canada. His own MPs have publicly asked for his resignation. His chair rests on pro-Khalistani MPs, hence his open support is with Khalistanis. Due to his attitude, relations between India and Canada have also deteriorated. Canada’s fundamental principles of democracy, rule of law and secularism are also violated. We condemn the attack on Hindu temple.”
Alok Kumar said that the current government of Canada and Khalistani supporters should not forget that the Hindus there also have the right to self-defence.
Earlier on November 4, PM Modi also condemned the deliberate attack on Hindu temple in Canada and expressed his dismay over “cowardly attempts” to intimidate India’s diplomats, stating that New Delhi expects Canada to ensure justice and uphold rule of law.
In a post on X, PM Modi said that such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve.
“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.
The strong statement by PM Modi came hours after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned 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,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to media queries regarding violence in Brampton.
“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. India has been repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has been seeking action against these activities.
This is the first statement by PM Modi since the Canada-related controversy started. Sources said it is a reflection that PM Modi stands up for Indians across the world. An Indian consular camp at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Canada’s Brampton witnessed a “violent disruption” on Sunday (local time) in Brampton, near Toronto.
The incident sparked widespread criticism in and outside Canada. Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the attack on the Hindu Sabha temple, calling it “completely unacceptable.”
The ties between India and Canada have taken a sharp downturn following Canadian leaders making allegations without providing evidence about an assassination on their soil. The sharp deterioration in ties has seen India withdrawing its High Commissioner from Canada. India had last month Canada’s then Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and conveyed that the “baseless targeting” of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable.
India underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government’s actions endangered their safety.”We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,” MEA had said in a release.
The bilateral ties soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he has “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has denied all the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated” and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.
Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year. Trudeau had also said last month that his government had not provided India with hard evidence but just intelligence regarding the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil.
