Protests outside Canadian High Commission in Delhi over Khalistani attack on Hindu temple in Canada

On Sunday, members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum staged a protest outside the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, calling attention to the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada. The incident took place on November 3, when Khalistani extremists attacked Hindu devotees, including women and children, outside the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton. The assailants used sticks to assault the devotees, which led to widespread condemnation from various political and community leaders globally.

The protesters in New Delhi marched towards the Canadian High Commission, holding placards with slogans like “Hindus and Sikhs are united” and “Indians will not tolerate the insult of temples in Canada.” Several demonstrators attempted to breach police barricades set up at the Teen Murti Marg by Delhi Police. The authorities had increased security and deployed additional forces to ensure the protest did not escalate. Despite the protestors' attempts to topple the barricades, the situation remained under control, and no major incidents were reported.

The incident in Brampton, which sparked the protest in India, has drawn international attention. On November 3, Hindu devotees were attacked while outside the Hindu Sabha Temple by individuals associated with the Khalistani separatist movement. The assailants reportedly shouted slogans in support of Khalistan while assaulting the devotees. The attack has raised alarms over the growing influence of Khalistani extremists in Canada and their increasing attacks on religious minorities. The Indian government swiftly condemned the attack, urging the Canadian authorities to take strong measures to protect religious minorities and their places of worship from such violence.

Tarvinder Singh Marwah, President of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum, criticized the rising attacks on temples and religious sites in Canada. He called the violence part of a broader pattern of hostility against the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada, which has been exacerbated by Khalistani extremism. Marwah described these events as part of a legacy of militancy that has affected the community for generations. He mentioned how militancy had disrupted the unity of these communities, citing historical issues, such as forced religious conversions and the introduction of drugs to destroy the youth. Marwah also condemned the continuous targeting of temples as an unfortunate new phase of this ongoing violence.

The protest comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. Relations have been strained in recent months following the Canadian government's allegations regarding India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. India has strongly denied these claims, calling them "absurd" and "motivated." In retaliation, India recalled its diplomats from Canada, including the Indian High Commissioner and five others, after Canada labeled them as "persons of interest" in the Pannun case. India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, criticized Canada for allowing individuals with links to organized crime to operate freely within the country, a sentiment echoed by several other Indian officials.

Following the Brampton attack, the Canadian authorities have been investigating the incident. On November 9, Peel Regional Police arrested 35-year-old Inderjeet Gosal, a coordinator for the separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in connection with the assault. Gosal faces charges of assault with a weapon. Three other individuals were also arrested earlier in connection with the protest held by Khalistani supporters outside the Hindu Mandir in Brampton, which coincided with the temple attack. The violence prompted widespread protests, including those from the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and other groups, who have called for stronger measures to prevent Khalistani extremists from disrupting communal harmony.