The recent attack on the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, by Khalistani extremists has sparked widespread condemnation from Canadian politicians across party lines, including opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, Toronto MP Kevin Vuong, and MP Chandra Arya. Poilievre, in particular, called for the protection of religious freedom, stressing that Canadians must have the right to practice their faith in peace. Toronto MP Vuong criticized the government’s failure to protect Hindus, echoing concerns that Canada has become a haven for radical groups. He compared the lack of action to the government’s failure to safeguard Jewish and Christian communities.
MP Chandra Arya strongly condemned the attack, describing it as crossing a “red line” by Khalistani extremists. He highlighted the increasing prevalence of violent extremism in Canada, particularly targeting religious minorities. The Hindu Canadian Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the Hindu community, released a video of the attack, showing women and children being beaten by the assailants.
In response to the incident, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the violence, affirming that everyone should be free to practice their faith without fear. However, former MP Maxime Bernier criticized Trudeau and other political leaders for their reluctance to explicitly address the perpetrators. On social media, Bernier pointed out that neither Trudeau, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, nor Poilievre had named the Khalistani Sikhs responsible for the violence. He accused the politicians of avoiding the issue to avoid alienating certain voter groups, despite Khalistani supporters representing a minority within the Canadian Sikh community. Bernier blamed the government’s complacency for fostering an environment in which Khalistani extremism has been allowed to grow.
