On November 3, violence broke out at the Hindu Sabha Mandir, a temple in Brampton, Ontario. Videos posted online show some people carrying distinctive yellow flags of Khalistan—a movement which demands a separate Sikh homeland to be carved out of India—clashing with others holding Indian flags. The tensions between members of the congregation and Khalistan-supporting Sikhs protesting the presence of Indian consular officials there resulted in more clashes, five arrests, and the suspensions of a Peel police officer and a Hindu priest. India’s external affairs ministry says “extremists and separatists” were behind the violence, while the North America–based group Sikhs for Justice describes the incident as an “unprovoked violent attack on peaceful pro-Khalistan demonstrators.”
Soon after the incident, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau wrote on X that the violence was “unacceptable” and that “every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely.” A day later, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi escalated matters. On X, he condemned the “deliberate attack” on the Hindu temple, in effect blaming Sikh activists for the violent clash. He also denounced “cowardly attempts to intimidate” consular staff, adding, “Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve.”
