A Hindu priest from the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada, has been suspended following allegations of promoting violent rhetoric during a protest by Khalistani supporters. The incident occurred on November 3, when tensions flared between Hindu and Sikh communities outside the temple during a consular event attended by Indian officials.
The protest saw participants waving Khalistani flags, leading to a physical altercation on the temple grounds, which included fistfights and the use of poles as weapons. The Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, condemned the priest’s alleged involvement in the escalation, emphasizing that most Sikh and Hindu Canadians desire peaceful coexistence and reject violence. “This is leadership that is helpful,” Brown wrote on social media. He encouraged both communities to avoid fueling division and to let law enforcement handle incidents of violence.
The Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council also condemned the violence, stressing that such actions don’t represent the Sikh community as a whole. The temple’s president, Madhusudan Lama, acted quickly by suspending the priest, hoping to prevent further unrest and restore peace among community members.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the incident by reiterating the importance of religious freedom and safety for all Canadians. He expressed concern over rising tensions and emphasized the need for a peaceful solution to avoid further conflict. Meanwhile, the Indian government has also voiced concerns about the safety of Indian nationals in Canada amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.
The recent clash is part of a larger strain in India-Canada relations. Tensions between the two countries rose in September 2023 when Trudeau suggested that Indian agents might have been involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan supporter, claims India dismissed as unfounded.
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