External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar voiced his alarm over the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, which he termed "deeply concerning" during a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday.
What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously very deeply concerning. And you would have seen the statement first by the official spokesperson and also the expression of concern by the Prime Minister yesterday. So, that should, I think, convey to you how deeply we feel about it, Jaishankar stated.
He also criticized the surveillance Canada was conducting against Indian diplomats, saying this was a "pattern of making allegations without providing specifics."
"When we look at Canada for us, the fact that they're putting our diplomats under surveillance is something which is unacceptable," he added.
Speaking for videos surfacing showing the temple attack, Jaishankar said, "Do look at the video, and I think it would tell you, in a way, the political space today, which is being given to extremist forces there (Canada), that so we believe in freedoms. We also believe freedom should not be misused.".
The Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, had condemned the attack and pledged solidarity with the Indian community.
"In the aftermath of Diwali, it's very distressing for community members of the faith, and the wider Indian community. I would again reiterate that people in general across Australia have a right to be safe and respected. And people have a right to express their views peacefully; they have a right to peaceful protest," she said, arguing that violence and vandalism ought to be addressed by police.
"We are a multi-cultural democracy, we cherish that fact, but we also cherish the principles that enable that multi-cultural democracy to flourish — respect and a right to express different views peacefully," she added further.
Battles, skirmishes are recorded through unverified videos and reports about the clashes between protesting groupies carrying Khalistan flags near the Hindu Sabha Temple which were circulated all over the social media platform.
Videos captured some of the protestants with flagpoles and Khalistan-supporting flags. Peel Regional Police authorities confirmed that three people responsible for the incident have been arrested for assault with a weapon as well as assaulting a police officer.
Earlier this Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned this attack terming it "a deliberate" act on violence in a strong tweet on X.
Such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law, wrote PM Modi.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs too expressed "deep concern" regarding the safety of Indians in Canada and demanded security for places of worship.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario," and called upon the Canadian government to take action against those responsible.
The MEA reiterated that its consular services would continue, "unfazed by intimidation, harassment, and violence," emphasizing India's commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
