Last update:06 November 2024, 4:10 p.m. IST

By failing to hold Khalistan violent extremists accountable, Canadian authorities have sent a chilling message: intimidation and violence against Hindus is tolerable if done under the guise of dissent and freedom of expression.

In one clip, an officer is seen charging at a protester and hitting him several times. (Screenshot via X/@DanielBordmanOG)

On a peaceful Diwali weekend, two temples in Canada, long-standing beacons of peace for the Hindu diaspora, became hotbeds of violence. In Brampton, at a Hindu Sabha Mandir, where an imposing 55-foot statue of Lord Hanuman stands in majestic repose, the sanctity of worship was violently interrupted. In Surrey, around the same time, a similar desecration occurred, but with a disturbing twist: Canadian police, rather than offering protection from violence, allegedly turned their backs on the worshipers they sworn to protect.

This spiral of aggression against Canada’s Hindu community speaks to a growing dissonance, in which anti-Hindu allegiances and violent extremist ideologies have found combustible alignment. These events call into question not only the role of Canadian authorities in preserving peace, but also their apparent lack of justice in the face of rising extremism against Hindus. These incidents bear the marks of a larger problem that Canada, under the guise of neutrality, could have dangerously fueled.

Brampton’s Hindu Sabha Mandir is a symbol of spiritual and cultural unity for the Hindu community, with its imposing statue of Hanuman proudly recalling the ancient heritage of the Canadian landscape. Yet, as Indian consular officials visited the temple to offer routine services, scenes of unrest unfolded which shattered the tranquility of the temple. Khalistani extremistsaligned with the banned extremist group Sikhs for Justice, staged a violent protest that escalated into open assault on temple worshipers.

Video footage shared on social media captured harrowing moments as Hindu worshipers were attacked, beaten and confronted with large sticks by extremists. The aggressive violence of these extremists constituted an unprovoked attack on a peaceful community committed to its sacred observances. Sikhs for Justice, a group with known ties to Pakistan and a history of terrorism linked to the violent Khalistan secessionist movement, had explicitly expressed its desire to disrupt consular services outside official premises, saying such events posed a “threat » for the cause of Khalistan.

Peel Regional Police, responsible for overseeing law enforcement in Bramptonhave come under heavy criticism for their response – or lack thereof. Despite widespread violence, no arrests have been made, a move that many say reflects a worrying leniency. Peel police released a brief statement pledging to “investigate any acts of violence or threats” but, to date, no charges have been laid. This inaction stands in stark contrast to the force’s rapid response to similar cases of disorderly conduct in other communities.

For Hindu Canadians, these events highlight a troubling trend. Liberal MP Chandra Arya condemned the incident, calling attention to what he described as a “free pass” given to Canadian Khalistani extremists. As he noted: “These extremists enjoy a level of immunity that raises serious questions about Canada’s commitment to protecting its citizens equally. “.

Across the country, in Surrey, a gathering of Hindu worshipers at a temple was also subjected to intimidation by Khalistani extremists operating with impunity in Canada. As people of all ages gathered to pray, the Khalistanis arrived with charged slogans, invoking Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a notorious Khalistan extremist recently murdered in murky circumstances. Far from remaining a peaceful protest, the event quickly became threatening, with calls for Hindus to “go back to their country”.

Yet what unfolded next was perhaps more disturbing than the protest itself. As tensions intensified, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intervened, but not to protect threatened Hindu worshipers. Instead, in an act that left the Hindu community in shock and disbelief, the RCMP arrested three Hindu worshipers, who were then escorted from the temple grounds, in full view of the protesters who had incited the incident. The reason for the detentions was not revealed, but the message sent was clear: the victims of bullying were named as the culprits.

This police action has led many people to question the impartiality of the RCMP. At a time when Hindus in Canada felt increasingly vulnerable, the police response was inadequate or complicit. The tendency of law enforcement to intervene against Hindu Canadians, rather than protect them, has created deep resentment and fear. A local temple spokesperson appealed for calm, reminding the community to wait for further information, but the underlying fear was palpable. The apparent reluctance of Canadian authorities to protect Hindus, or even to acknowledge the intimidation they face, has exposed a chasm in the justice system they are supposed to trust.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa issued a statement expressing disappointment at the violence allowed to disrupt routine consular events. “As in previous years,” the statement said, “the Indian High Commission and Consulates General have planned consular camps during this period to assist local Life Certificate beneficiaries.” However, despite clear warnings and requests for increased security, Canadian authorities failed to prevent disruption in Khalistan. This dereliction of duty has caused Hindus in Canada and beyond to question the nation’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all religious communities.

Diplomatic tensions sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau between Canada and India have intensified in recent months, with baseless accusations fueling discord. Yet the way Canada has handled these incidents suggests something more insidious: the normalization of extremism under the guise of free speech. It appears that Canada is grappling with, or perhaps choosing not to confront, a deep-rooted bias in its approach to law enforcement where Khalistan sympathizers are concerned. The Indian High Commission had no choice but to remind Canadian authorities of their duty to protect citizens and consular staff engaged in routine activities. However, the community they represent feels abandoned, exposed to aggression and without recourse to justice.

As Canada’s Hindu diaspora reflects on these episodes of violence, a disturbing reality emerges: Their homeland may be an ocean away, but the conflicts they face appear to have followed them to Canadian shores. Worshipers who once sought refuge in Canada, a country that promised peace and security, now find themselves targeted, harassed and abandoned by a system that appears unwilling to defend their rights. There is a bitter irony in these attacks: Canada’s famous multiculturalism, once a source of pride, has been used as a weapon against the very people it claimed to protect. As Canadian authorities continue to walk the line between neutrality and neglect, Hindu Canadians are wondering if their place in this country is as secure as they once believed.

While the events at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton and the Surrey Temple may seem isolated to some, for Canada’s Hindu community they represent a deep-rooted, systemic assault – one that has gone on for far too long and has now led to a deep collapse. in confidence. These incidents are part of an alarming trend across Canada, where Hindu temples are increasingly the target of intimidation, vandalism and violence. In January 2023, the Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto was covered in anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti, marking one of the first signs of targeted harassment.

A few months later, in February 2023, the Gauri Shankar Temple in Brampton suffered a similar attack, with vandals leaving hateful messages that many in the community saw as a direct threat. In July 2023, Bhagavad Gita Park in Brampton, a public space created to celebrate Hindu heritage, was desecrated with anti-Hindu and anti-Indian slogans. Each incident has added to a growing sense of insecurity among Canada’s Hindu population, with places of worship, once havens of peace, becoming symbols of vulnerability. This ongoing trend of attacks, along with perceived police inaction or complicity, has eroded community trust and calls into question Canada’s commitment to ensuring the security and rights of all its citizens equally . As one Hindu devotee poignantly remarked: “We came to Canada to live in peace, but our children are under threat and our temple has been defaced. This is not the Canada we imagined. »

By failing to hold Khalistan violent extremists accountable, Canadian authorities have sent a chilling message: intimidation and violence against Hindus is tolerable if done under the guise of dissent and freedom of expression. Canada’s promise of pluralism and protection is now at stake. When the Hindu community turns to law enforcement to keep them safe, they should not have to wonder whether the police will act as protectors or as as a passive spectator. The fear growing within the community is that, in the face of extremist programs, the police are beginning to confuse neutrality with inaction, and tolerance with complicity.

The question is no longer whether Canadian police can keep the peace, but whether they will choose to do so. As temples are transformed into hotspots and faithful communities grapple with security that seems less assured by the day, Canada faces a reckoning: will it live up to its commitment to protect all its citizens equally, or will it allow prejudice, silence and negligence to sow further division? For the Hindu community, the message is as harsh as it is painful. In a country that once presented itself as a beacon of peace and inclusion, law and order guardians must decide whether they will defend these ideals or remain spectators of their erosion.

The author is research director at the Center for Integrated and Holistic Studies, a nonpartisan think tank based in New Delhi. The opinions expressed in the article above are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of News18.