Brampton, Canada, Sikhs vs Hindus battlefield

by Marzio Pelù

TORONTO – On a quiet autumn Sunday, in the Canada of 2024, it may happen that you witness a battle, with the sound of fists and sticks, between Hindus and Sikhs: both Indians, but divided by religion and politics. Especially politics: the latter, they want the independence of a region of India, Khalistan. And for this reason, in their homeland they are considered separatists and, some of them, terrorists.

The problem, in short, would be entirely “Indian”: but in recent years, following precise choices by the Canadian federal government in the immigration sector, arrivals from India have been massive and so Canada has become, in the space of two-three years, a new battleground for the opposing factions which are both currently well fed, especially in Brampton.

The result is what happened on Sunday in front of a Hindu temple in Brampton: the “Hindu Sabha Mandir”. In front of it, for reasons still being ascertained by the Peel Police, a violent brawl broke out between Hindus and Sikhs, with punches, kicks and beatings. In some videos circulating on social media, people can be seen attacked outside the Hindu temple by some Sikhs who first wave the Khalistan flags, then use them to attack the Indian “enemies”. The Sikhs were apparently protesting – so the group “Sikhs for Justice” said, according to CTV – against the presence of Indian Consulate officials at the Hindu temple, in a visit announced to provide administrative services especially to help the elderly Indians to access pensions. Then, the situation worsened and the demonstration degenerated into a fight, requiring the intervention of the Peel Police who restored calm and, after an initial series of investigations, arrested three people.

Peel Police Chief, Nishan Duraiappah, posted a statement on social media, saying violence and criminal acts will not be tolerated. “We respect the right to protest in a peaceful & safe manner but will not tolerate violence & criminal acts, those that do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested & charged” he wrote.

The Brampton incident comes at a time when tension between India and Canada is very high, with mutual expulsions of diplomats. The federal government led by Justin Trudeau, in fact, recently accused the Indian government of being “behind” the crimes committed against some Sikh separatists in Canada. An accusation forcefully rejected by the Indian government and by President Narendra Modi, who today commented on the events in Brampton, speaking of a “deliberate attack” on a Hindu temple in Canada and stating that he expects Trudeau’s government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law. Modi added that attempts to intimidate Indian diplomats in Canada were “equally appalling”, while his foreign ministry said Sunday’s violence at the temple in Brampton was perpetrated by “extremists and separatists”.

Such violence has been harshly condemned by all Canadian politicians, from all sides: from the mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, to the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, up to the prime minister Justin Trudeau, the conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and that of the NDP , Jagmeet Singh, who is Sikh. “Every Canadian must be free to visit their place of worship in peace. 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 social networks.

The only voice out of the chorus, Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada, who published the video of the violence on Twitter, writing: “Khalistani Sikhs attacking worshippers at Brampton Hindu temple. Nothing to worry about though because DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH!!!” (emphasis present in the original text of the tweet, here below).