Violence at Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton. Screenshot: Chandra Arya via @AryaCanada/X

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the violence at a Hindu temple near Toronto on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, as “unacceptable” following clashes that some leaders blamed on Sikh activists.

Local police in the city of Brampton, about 50 km (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 spokesperson said: AFP He stated that no arrests were made. Police also denied blame for the reported violence.

Mr. Trudeau wrote to

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 this incident Ottawa blames Indian government Organizing 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,” Mr. Arya, who is Hindu, 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.

Mr. Trudeau accused the Government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of violating Canadian sovereignty.

India denied the allegations.

Earlier this month, Delhi and Ottawa expelled each other’s ambassador and other senior diplomats.