Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the violence at a Hindu temple near Toronto on Sunday as “unacceptable” following clashes that some leaders blamed on Sikh activists. Local police in the city of Brampton, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Toronto, said they were heavily deployed outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir to maintain calm during the protest.

A Peel Regional Police spokesman told AFP no arrests had been made. Police also denied blame for the reported violence. “The acts of violence that took place today at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to freely and safely practice his or her faith,” Trudeau wrote to X.

Chandra Arya, a federal MP and member of Trudeau’s Liberal Party, blamed the incident on “Khalistanis,” a reference to supporters of the fringe separatist movement for an independent Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab state.

Relations between Canada and India deteriorated after Ottawa accused the Indian government of plotting the murder of 45-year-old Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan activist, in Vancouver in 2023.

Beyond Nijjar’s killing, Canada accused India of orchestrating a broad campaign targeting Sikh activists on Canadian soil; Ottawa says it involves intimidation, threats and violence.
“Canadian Khalistani extremists crossed the red line today,” Hindu Arya said on X.

“The Khalistani attack on Hindu-Canadian devotees at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton demonstrates how deep and brazen Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada,” he said.

In the video circulating on social media, people carrying the yellow Khalistan flag are seen clashing with a rival group, including people carrying the Indian flag. The videos also featured isolated fist fights.

Trudeau had previously accused the Indian government of violating Canadian sovereignty. India denied the allegations. Earlier this month, Delhi and Ottawa expelled each other’s ambassador and other senior diplomats.