In Brampton, Ontario, over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir on Monday evening to protest recent attacks on Hindu temples across Canada. This rally, organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), came in response to a string of incidents involving temple vandalism, including an attack on the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton by individuals linked to Khalistani extremism during the Diwali weekend.
The protestors called on Canadian politicians and law enforcement agencies to address the increasing religious intolerance and ensure that temples and other places of worship remain protected. CoHNA highlighted these incidents on social media, urging Canada to address what they referred to as “Hinduphobia.”
The Hindu Canadian Foundation, a non-profit organization representing the Hindu community, shared video evidence of the attack, describing how women and children were targeted by extremist actions. The incident also saw a “violent disruption” of an Indian consular camp held at the temple, raising concerns for the safety of Indian nationals and Hindu communities in Canada.
In response, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a strong condemnation of the attacks, demanding that Canadian authorities ensure justice and uphold the rule of law. India’s Ministry of External Affairs echoed this sentiment, calling on the Canadian government to prosecute those responsible and prevent further incidents.
The Indian High Commission in Canada also voiced concerns about rising anti-India activities and noted that future events would depend on the security measures provided by Canadian authorities. Incidents like these underscore an ongoing trend of religious intolerance and have prompted calls for increased protection for religious institutions across the country.
