External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the increasing political space for extremist groups in Canada is a serious matter of concern.
Canada has developed a pattern of making allegations without substantiating them," he said in a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong. "We find it unacceptable that our diplomats are reportedly under surveillance in Canada, and we are witnessing a disturbing allowance of political space for extremist groups there," Jaishankar said.
This came shortly after an attack on a Hindu temple in the suburb of Brampton, Canada, amid a deepening diplomatic row over issues related to Khalistani separatist movements and the safety of Indian diplomats in the country.
The press briefing was given to the media in Canberra amid Jaishankar's official five-day visit to Australia, where he meets Australian leaders, Indian diaspora representatives, and other interlocutors to discuss Indo-Pacific issues and regional security problems in detail.
India-Canada diplomatic row
India and Canada have sharply escalated a diplomatic row in recent months. Ties soured last year when Canada accused India of being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar is a Canadian national whom India has officially designated as a terrorist for his role in the Khalistani separatist movement.
India has strongly rejected such accusations, asking Canada to take effective action against anti-India separatist groups that operate from within its borders.
Attack on Brampton temple
On November 3, a violent clash occurred at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. A protest turned into people clashing and getting into physical altercations over flagpoles and punches. The Peel Regional Police arrested three people related to the violence and are conducting an ongoing investigation. No specific groups have been named officially, but the clash involved people carrying yellow Khalistan flags and another group carrying Indian flags.
This is a string of attacks on Hindu temples in Canada. Graffiti with inflammatory slogans or damage to property are some common occurrences that have been taking place and have caused distress in the Indian diaspora community in Canada.
**'We expect the Canadian govt to ensure justice': PM Modi
With equal eloquence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a condemnation of the attack and underscored the seriousness of the threat posed by violent extremist groups on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve, Modi said. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law. Modi further emphasized that the Canadian government must protect diplomatic staff and also avert intimidation of Indian diplomats stationed in Canada.
The same views were reflected by the Ministry of External Affairs of India since MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said acts of violence against religious institutions must be dealt with immediately.
"We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple. We call on the Canadian government to ensure that all places of worship are safeguarded," Jaiswal said, expressing concerns over growing incidents of violence targeting the Indian diaspora and Indian institutions in Canada.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau on temple attack
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also publicly denounced the violence, referring to it as "unacceptable."
He again claimed that every Canadian has the right to practice their faith in a safe environment, which is why he thanked Peel Regional Police for its swift intervention.
"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," Trudeau wrote.
Read also| Canadian Hindus Rally Against Khalistani Extremist Attacks on Temples in Canada
