New Delhi: In a stern rebuke, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his profound condemnation of the "deliberate assault" on a Hindu temple in Canada, describing the attempts to intimidate Indian diplomats as "appalling." He has called upon the Canadian authorities to ensure justice is served and to uphold the principles of the rule of law.
"I unequivocally condemn the deliberate assault on a Hindu temple. Equally reprehensible are the cowardly endeavors to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will not erode India's determination. We expect the Canadian government to guarantee justice and maintain the rule of law," PM Modi stated.
This unequivocal statement by PM Modi was issued shortly after the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement condemning the violent acts carried out by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario, on the previous day.
"We urge the Government of Canada to protect all places of worship from such incursions. Furthermore, we anticipate that those responsible for such violence will face prosecution. Our concerns regarding the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada remain significant," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in response to inquiries regarding the violence in Brampton.
"The diplomatic outreach of our consular officers will not be hindered by intimidation, harassment, or violence. We remain deeply troubled by the safety and security of our citizens in Canada," the spokesperson added.
India has consistently voiced its concerns regarding extremism, the prevailing culture of violence, and anti-India activities in Canada, advocating for action against these issues.
This statement marks the first official response from PM Modi to the controversy surrounding Canada.
Sources indicate that this statement reflects PM Modi's unwavering support for Indians worldwide.
The Indian consulate in Brampton, Ontario, experienced a "violent disruption" on Sunday (local time) in Brampton, a city near Toronto.
This incident has led to widespread condemnation both within and outside Canada. Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has criticized the attack on the Hindu Sabha Temple, describing it as "completely unacceptable."
Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya has also expressed his disapproval of the temple attack, stating that a "red line has been crossed" by Khalistani extremists, underscoring the emergence of brazen violent extremism in Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also denounced the assault on the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton by Khalistani extremists.
Emphasizing the significance of religious liberty, Prime Minister Trudeau underscored the right of every Canadian citizen to freely and safely practice their religion.
"The violent acts perpetrated at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are utterly unacceptable. It is imperative that every Canadian is afforded the right to practice their faith without fear or hindrance. We extend our gratitude to the Peel Regional Police for their prompt response in safeguarding the community and conducting an investigation into this matter," he stated.
This recent incident further contributes to a series of similar occurrences documented over the past years, highlighting a troubling pattern of religious intolerance.
The relationship between India and Canada has experienced a significant decline following the allegations made by Canadian leaders without substantiated evidence regarding an assassination on Canadian soil.
This deterioration in relations has led to India's decision to withdraw its High Commissioner from Canada.
In response to the recent escalation, India expressed its concern over the prevailing climate of extremism and violence, stating that the actions of the Trudeau Government jeopardized their safety. "We have lost confidence in the current Canadian Government's commitment to our security. Consequently, the Government of India has made the decision to withdraw the High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials targeted by these actions," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced in a statement.
The bilateral relations have further deteriorated following Prime Minister Trudeau's allegations in the Canadian Parliament last year of credible evidence linking India to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has vehemently denied these allegations, characterizing them as baseless and motivated, and has accused Canada of allowing extremist and anti-India elements to operate within their borders.
Nijjar, who had been designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency, was fatally shot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, United Kingdom, in June of the previous year.
In a statement made last month, Prime Minister Trudeau indicated that his administration had not furnished India with concrete evidence, merely with intelligence pertaining to the incident involving Nijjar on Canadian territory.
During testimony before Canada's foreign interference inquiry, Trudeau acknowledged that India had consistently demanded evidence in lieu of allegations made against it.
"In the background, we were attempting to encourage India to cooperate with us. Their request was for us to provide the evidence we had on them. Our response was that this evidence was within your security agency's purview. We suggested that you investigate the extent of their knowledge and engage further. At that juncture, the evidence we were dealing with was primarily of an intelligence nature, rather than tangible, hard evidence. Consequently, we proposed a collaborative approach. We said, 'Let's work together...'," he elaborated.
