redline-crossed

The proverbial ‘redline’ has been crossed in Canada with Hindu temples and devotees being attacked in Brampton and Surrey on the Diwali weekend. There is angst and outrage among the community across India and Canada over the well planned and coordinated attacks by some lumpen goons on Sunday.

 

What has led to further anger among the Hindu community is the partial and partisan role played by the Peel Police, in Brampton. So much so, one cop was seen assaulting a Hindu devotee outside the temple in Brampton. The video of the assault was shared by a Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman, Senior Correspondent of the National Telegraph newspaper, based in Toronto, on his ‘X’ handle.

 

As the visuals of the attacks in both Brampton and Surrey, both cities having substantial population of people from India, went viral on social media, there was concern and anger at the same time in both the countries.

 

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CHNA) has planned a nationwide (Canada) protest “against Khalistani attack on Hindu temples on Diwali weekend” on Monday.

 

 So far the anti-India protestors would restrict themselves to political occasions or public places only and would raise slogans against India. It was for the first time that the temples belonging to the Hindu community and the Hindu devotees were attacked in full public view.

 

The incidents took place in the backdrop of the diplomatic standoff between India and Canada following the Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau’s allegations against India and the Home Minister Amit Shah, about the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey last year. Trudeau has not produced any evidence of India’s even after the passage of one year since he leveled these allegations.

 

The things reached such an impasse when the Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats including the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma. India retaliated by expelling six Canadian diplomats.

 

The Canadian government has continued with its venomous propaganda against the government of India with baseless allegations. Despite India’s repeated insistence, the Canadian authorities have not produced any evidence to substantiate their charges that the government of India was involved in the Nijjar’s killing.

 

Thanks to Trudeau’s brazen and blatant anti-India stance, a toxic atmosphere of hatred and hostility has been created in Canadian society between two prominent Indian communities. Attacks on two prominent temples in Surrey and Brampton are the consequences of the same toxic and venomous atmosphere Trudeau has created and encouraged. The lumpen goons who attacked the temples on Sunday have only felt encouraged with Trudeau’s support, which was evident with local police either not acting against the attackers or siding with them.

 

Although the Canadian Prime Minister did condemn the violence, it is actually he who has to be blamed. “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely”, he wrote in a ‘token’ message, although he is himself responsible for all that is happening in that country right now.

 

Prominent Indian origin Liberal MP Chandra Arya described the attacks as crossing of the “redline”. Arya wrote on X, “a red line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists today. The attack by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees inside the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton shows how deep and brazen has Khalistani violent extremism become in Canada”.

 

“I begin to feel that there is a small grain of truth in the reports that in addition to the Canadian political apparatus, Khalistanis have effectively infiltrated into our law enforcement agencies. No wonder that under the 'freedom of expression' Khalistani extremists are getting a free pass in Canada”, he added.

 

Toronto MP, Kevin Vuong also condemned the attack, saying, “alarming to see an attack on Hindu Canadians. From Khalistani extremists to terrorist cosplayers, Canada has become a safe harbour for radicals.Our leaders are failing to safeguard Hindus as they have failed to save Christians and Jewish Canadians from violence.We all deserve to worship in peace”.

 

The Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council (OSGC) came out with a strong condemnation of the attack and urged the authorities to investigate the incident.

 

“OSGC strongly condemns the incident of violence outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir on Gore Rd in Brampton. Violence and intimidation have no place in our community, where peace, unity, and mutual respect are the values we hold near and dear,” the statement by OSGC said, while adding, “We urge everyone to exercise restraint, promote dialogue, and work together towards peace that is respective of all communities”.

 

“OSGC is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all community members and supporting an environment where people can feel safe and respected, regardless of their beliefs,” it said.

 

Earlier also there have been attacks on Hindu temples with walls being defaced in towns like Windsor and Mississauga. As the Canadian government did not take any action against the perpetrators they felt encouraged and emboldened further.

 

Canada is faced with an unprecedented situation where two communities from India are seemingly getting polarized. Prime Minister Trudeau only added fuel to the fire by mollycoddling some radical groups to the extent of almost breaking diplomatic relations with India.

 

All such incidents reflect badly on the Canadian government. Its police are not equipped with a situation that is threatening to emerge. As long as people in Canada remain peaceful, everything would look fine, but the moment things get out of control there will be chaos and anarchy.

 

Like former US Secretary of State Ms Hillary Clinton warned Pakistan against training and sheltering terrorists against India, that “you cannot rear snakes in your backyard and expect them to bite the neighbors only”, the same thing is happening in Canada. The Canadian government not only went soft with extremism, but has been encouraging it. Extremism always extends to violence and that has started happening in Canada.