Indian prime minister calls on Trudeau government to ‘uphold the rule of law’ after weekend clash at Hindu temple in Brampton

OTTAWA—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the Trudeau government Monday to “ensure justice and uphold the rule of law” following violent altercations outside a Hindu temple in Brampton over the weekend.

New Delhi’s swift rebuke came as tensions between Canada and India simmer over explosive allegations that linked Indian officials in Canada to homicides and threats against Canadians, which the Modi government has denied.

Peel police arrested three people on Sunday during clashes between Sikh separatists and Hindu worshippers at Brampton’s Sabha Mandir temple. The pro-Khalistan Sikh groups said they were protesting the presence of Indian consular officials at the temple.

Modi said he strongly condemned the “deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada,” although police have not commented on how the violence started.

“Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats,” he said. “Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve.

“We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.”

Liberal MP Chandra Arya echoed those concerns on social media, blaming the pro-Khalistan protesters for the violence that he said “shows how deep and brazen has Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada.”

He also claimed there is a “small grain of truth” to allegations that Sikh separatists have “effectively infiltrated” Canadian politics and law enforcement agencies.“A red line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists today,” he wrote on X. “As I have been saying for long, Hindu-Canadians, for the security and safety of our community, need to step up and asserts their rights and hold politicians accountable.”

Sikhs for Justice, a diaspora group pushing for the creation of a Sikh state called “Khalistan” in Punjab, India, said the demonstration was peaceful before the worshippers attacked the protesters, and have accused Indian officials and Arya of encouraging violence against them. Videos posted on social media show protesters fist fighting, attacking one another with flags and throwing what appears to be stones at one another.

Canadian political leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford, quickly condemned the violence at the place of worship.

“The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable,” Trudeau said in a post on X. “Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely.”

Ford said on X that “the violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton this afternoon is completely unacceptable and must be condemned. No one should feel unsafe in their place of worship.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre posted that the “violence targeting worshippers” was “completely unacceptable,” while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said “violence anywhere is wrong” and called for peace.