Thousands of Indian-origin people protested on Monday after a Khalistani mob violently attacked Hindu pilgrims at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, over the weekend. The law-abiding community, which had been pressured to gather and mobilise following the violence, displayed a rare display of strength in this instance. Additionally, it was a demonstration of solidarity between Sikhs and Hindus against the few Khalistanis who have been given preferential treatment in Canada under the Justin Trudeau administration.
While some demonstrators blocked a road, others denounced the Khalistani mob’s violence and urged the Hindu community to reconsider their backing of Canadian political parties.
A day after Khalistanis stormed the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, thousands of Indian-Canadians also demonstrated outside the temple on Monday. The Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA) organised the march with the goal of demonstrating solidarity and fortitude in the face of the Khalistanis’ unjustified aggression.
“This is kind of an awakening for the Hindu community. They never protest like this in thousands. The Khalistanis crossed a line. And the Hindus found the need to get organised and mobilised,” Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman told.
Bordman confirmed that it was an alliance of all communities against Khalistanis.
“I was at the Hindu Sabha Mandir where thousands of Hindus, along with Sikhs, Jews, Christians and Iranians came out to show their support for the community after the Khalistani attack on their temple and the failure of Peel Police,” he wrote on X.
According to journalist Mocha Bezirgan of Calgary, protests against the Khalistani attack and the government’s inactivity intensified and became disorderly in Brampton, where cars were vandalised and traffic blockades were erected.
Both Sikhs and Hindus participated in the demonstrations, which also featured slogans denouncing the acts of the Peel Police as “biassed” and praising them for their poor response to the attack and failure to safeguard the Hindu minority.
“Sikhs are our brothers. The Khalistanis are not Sikhs. I have Sikh friends and brothers and friends, and they are not into this [hate against the Hindu community]. I want the Canadians to know this,” a protester of Indian-origin told.
“Attacking a temple is not freedom of speech,” he added. “We are together and united against these paid political stooges. Go and protest in India if you have guts. We are united.”
“While attending the Sikh temple, I was told to support Khalistan, which I declined. They said, I go should back to India. This is not right. I am a Sikh, and I am here to support my Hindu brothers,” told another protestor, holding the Indian flag.
In response to a Canadian ground report that described the assault on Hindus and their demonstrations as “Sikh vs. Hindu,” humorist and pundit Kamlesh Singh stated that there was no wide-ranging religious or ethnic difference between Sikhs and Hindus in Canada.
“For sanity’s sake, it’s not Sikhs vs Hindus in Canada. It’s Sikhs + Hindus vs a bunch of Canadian nuts who happen to be of Indian origin supported by some Canadian politicians,” Singh wrote on X.
Following the Khalistani attack on Hindu devotees, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau faced criticism for his not condemning the ‘Khalistanis’ who were behind the attack.
“Justin Trudeau has successfully divided the Indian Diaspora in Canada for his dirty politics… I highly condemn the attack on the temple or any religious place of worship by Trudeau’s khalistani elements,” Union Minister of State Railway & Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu said in a statement on Monday.
Meanwhile, the front page of the Canadian daily Toronto Sun carried the headline ‘A Land Divided’. “Attack on Hindu temple, with Peel cop accused of being involved, highlights how badly Trudeau has shattered this country,” it said.
In Canada, Trudeau has long depended on a base of pro-Khalistani voters. His silence is understandable in the lead-up to the general election in 2025, which is predicted to be a defeat for Trudeau’s Liberal Party.
“There has been political amnesia in Canada regarding the Khalistani issue. But the Khalistani movement has moved high up in terms of numbers during the term of Justin Trudeau,” Ujjal Dosanjh, former Canadian minister, told.
In response to the Justin Trudeau administration’s indulgence of anti-India Khalistani groups, the Indian diaspora has demonstrated its solidarity. The neighbourhood has demonstrated via its display of strength that it cannot be politically taken for granted.
