Brampton [Canada], November 5, 2024: More than a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on Monday evening to protest a series of recent attacks on Hindu temples, including an assault by Khalistani extremists on the temple over the Diwali weekend. The solidarity rally aimed to press Canadian politicians and law enforcement to address rising Hinduphobia and prevent further attacks on Hindu places of worship.
The protest was organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), which shared updates on social media platform X. “Over a thousand #CanadianHindus have gathered in Brampton to protest against the increasingly brazen attacks on Hindu Temples,” CoHNA posted. “During the sacred #Diwali weekend, Canadian Hindu temples coast to coast came under attack. We ask Canada to stop this #Hinduphobia now!”
Sunday’s attack, described as a “violent disruption” at an Indian consular camp held at the Hindu Sabha Temple, targeted both children and women, according to the Hindu Canadian Foundation, a nonprofit working for Hindu community rights in Canada. Videos of the incident circulated widely, further fueling public outcry and concern within Canada’s Hindu community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India condemned the “deliberate attack,” calling it a “cowardly attempt to intimidate” Indian diplomats. “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 posted on X.
Following Modi’s statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong condemnation, urging Canada to protect places of worship and ensure justice. “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,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
The MEA also confirmed that the recent attacks have raised safety concerns among Indian nationals residing in Canada. “The outreach of our Consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens alike will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment, and violence,” Jaiswal added, underscoring India’s determination to continue consular services despite security concerns.
In recent years, there has been an uptick in anti-Hindu and anti-India activities documented in Canada, highlighting a growing trend of religious intolerance. Amid these concerns, the Indian High Commission has emphasized that future events will be “contingent on security arrangements” provided by Canadian authorities to prevent further incidents.
