New Delhi: The Indian High Commission in Ottawa Sunday condemned the “violent disruption” caused by Sikh separatists at a Hindu temple near Toronto, which occurred during a camp co-organised by the Indian mission as a part of its routine consular activities.
The Indian High Commission has said there were similar attempts to disrupt camps in Vancouver and Surrey as well, which were held over the weekend.
The embassy in Ottawa said in a statement, “We have seen a violent disruption today (3 November) orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp co-organised with the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in Brampton, near Toronto.”
The statement added: “It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organised by our Consulates with the fullest cooperation of local co-organisers. We also remain very concerned for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demand such events are organised in the first place.”
PRESS RELEASE
“Violent disruption outside consular camp in Brampton, Ontario (Nov 3)”@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @diaspora_india @cgivancouver @IndiainToronto pic.twitter.com/V7QNMmA4eR
— India in Canada (@HCI_Ottawa) November 4, 2024
Also Read: Hindu temple attacked in Canada, Trudeau says ‘every Canadian has right to practice faith safely
Cops monitoring protesters, 1 arrested
The Peel Regional Police said Sunday night that at least one protester was arrested at the site, which led to minor injuries to one officer. Cops said they were monitoring the group of protesters, who then moved from Brampton to Mississauga city.
“While we respect the individual right to protest as per the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, these demonstrations continue to have acts of unlawfulness. We are asking the cooperation of the public to disperse and allow order to be maintained,” the police said in a statement.
— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) November 4, 2024
The camp was organised by the Indian mission to distribute life certificates to members of the community to avail Indian pensions.
Despite the disruptions, the high commission said, over 1,000 such certificates were given out at camps on the weekend, with 650 in Mississauga alone, the consulate said in a statement.
The high commission has said that organising future consular camps is “contingent on security arrangements” made by local authorities, keeping in mind the threats posed to Indian officials, local organisers and local attendees.
The attack on the temple, which saw individuals wielding sticks and Sikh separatist flags, has been condemned by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition, Pierre Poilievre.
In July this year, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in the Canadian city of Edmonton was vandalised with offensive graffiti calling Hindu-Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “Hindu terrorists”.
Last year, the Indian government temporarily suspended official consular work at its Canadian missions due to threats faced by its diplomats, right after Trudeau first alleged that Indian government officials were linked to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar, an India-designated terrorist, was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia in June 2023. The Indian government rejected Canada’s allegations, terming them “absurd and motivated”, which triggered a diplomatic chill.
In October, the Canadian government requested India to waive diplomatic immunity of six diplomats, including high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma. New Delhi rejected Ottawa’s request, withdrew the six diplomats, and expelled six Canadians from India, including acting high commissioner Stewart Wheeler and deputy high commissioner Patrick Hebert.
The Canadian government has also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of authorising the surveillance and attacks on Sikh separatists living in the country—a charge that India has once again called “absurd” and “baseless”.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)