Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday criticized violence attributed to Sikh separatists near a Hindu temple in Canada, condemning a “deliberate attack” targeting the place of worship, in the midst of a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
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“I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada,” Mr. Modi said in a statement on the social network X. “Cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats are equally appalling,” he said. added.
Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside of India and has a large number of activists in favor of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.
Peel Region police intervened in Brampton, near Toronto, on Sunday to disperse a violent demonstration around a Hindu place of worship, without assigning responsibility for the unrest.
Images posted on social media showed clashes between people carrying the yellow flag of Khalistan, the state that Sikh separatists are calling for, and a group flying an Indian flag.
As early as Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deplored this “unacceptable” violence.
“Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely. Thank you to the Peel Police for reacting quickly to protect the community and investigate,” he said on X (ex-Twitter).
The incident comes against the backdrop of a serious diplomatic crisis between New Delhi and Ottawa since Canadian police implicated India in the 2023 assassination in Vancouver of a Sikh separatist leader.
Intimidation campaign
A Canadian minister went so far as to accuse Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah, close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of having ordered a campaign of violence against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.
And two weeks ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal police claimed that there were “clear indications” of India’s involvement in this murder, as well as in a vast campaign of intimidation and of violence against Khalistan militants on Canadian soil.
A Canadian spy agency has claimed that New Delhi is using cybertechnology to track separatists abroad.
India has called these accusations “absurd” and, for its part, considers that Ottawa has been sheltering religious extremists for decades.
“Such acts of violence will never undermine India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and respect for the rule of law,” insisted Narendra Modi.
After new Canadian accusations last month, New Delhi expelled the ambassador and several Canadian diplomats in retaliation, immediately followed by Ottawa.
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