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Video: Pro-Khalistanis Target Temple In Canada; PM Modi Reacts

A video shared on social media shows pro-Khalistan extremists in Brampton, Canada, beating up devotees, including women and children, at a Hindu temple.

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Tanya Savkoor
New Update

Pro-Khalistan extremists allegedly attacked devotees, including women and children, at a Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, on November 3. A video circulating on social media shows the mob barging into the temple premises and wielding sticks at the devotees, prompting the police to deploy personnel. This comes amid tensions between India and Canada after Ottawa blamed Indian officials for conspiring the alleged murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in June 2023.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticised the "cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats" in a deepening diplomatic row with Canada. 

Canada Reacts To Attack

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has reportedly sided with pro-Khalistanis so far, condemned the recent attack and deemed it "unacceptable" and wrote on X, "Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely." He also said that the police were investigating the incident.

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Trudeau's aide, Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh Member of Parliament, also criticised the attackers and called for peace between the communities. "I unequivocally condemn the acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir. Violence anywhere is wrong. I join community leaders in calling for peace," he wrote on X. 

Canadian MP Chandra Arya, who has often expressed concern about the alleged threat by Khalistani radicals on Hindu Canadians, expressed that they had "crossed a red line". He asserted that the attack shows "how deep and brazen Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada." 

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The Hindu Sikh Unity Forum Canada responded with a statement. "Hindus and Sikhs share a deep bond rooted in shared culture and respect—ties that divisive actors and self-serving politicians are trying to unravel for their own gain. We urge all Canadians to reject these toxic influences," they wrote.

A similar riot-like incident had also recently occurred in Surrey, where many police officers allegedly used force to detain Hindu demonstrators including young teens at Laksminarayan Mandir. Videos circulating online show Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers kneeling on, shoving, and beating some people. 

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