THE British Columbia Gurdwaras Council (BCGC), the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee (OGC), the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), Guru Nanak Darbar Lasalle in Quebec, Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Culture Centre in Calgary and the Sikh Federation (Canada) on Monday in a joint statement strongly condemn the attack on Sri Guru Singh Sabha Malton late Sunday night and denounced “ongoing efforts by Indian authorities to incite violence and division within Canada.”
They said: “Attacks on peaceful Sikh protestors in Brampton and Surrey also highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the Sikh community in exercising their democratic rights due to ongoing Indian foreign interference activities.”
The statement said: “Indian consulates have organized consular camps in various cities across Canada, including within places of worship. The Sikh community has shown strong opposition to the presence of Indian diplomats in the community following the RCMP’s October 15 announcement that six senior Indian diplomats who were posted in Canada, including the High Commissioner, are considered persons of interest in organized crimes and transnational repression targeting Sikhs in Canada, including the assassination of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar on gurdwara property.”
It added: “[On Sunday], during a protest against one of the visiting Indian consulate camps at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, pro-India counter-protestors violently confronted Sikh protestors demonstrating on public property outside the mandir gates, including attacks on Peel Police officers. Following the incident, pro-India protestors were recorded openly inciting violence against Sikhs.
“According to Peel Police, later that same day, pro-India demonstrators proceeded to the Westwood Mall in Malton, where a police officer was injured controlling the crowd. The group also targeted the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, with several hundred pro-India protestors, many masked and wielding weapons, attempting to storm the premises. Sikh community members stood in defense of the gurdwara while Peel Police managed to repel the attackers and arrest three. Despite police intervention, pro-India protestors continued to provoke, hurling profanities at the gurdwara and its congregation throughout the night.
“Similar protests against Indian diplomats were organized outside Khalsa Diwan Society Ross Street in Vancouver and Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, where another three pro-India protestors were arrested.
“Indian media outlets have attempted to misrepresent these protests as anti-Hindu events, associating them with Diwali celebrations. Sikh protesters have made it clear that their grievances are directed solely at the actions of the Indian government, not the Hindu community, as also evidenced by a protest outside a gurdwara as well.
“Extensive public records, including evidence submitted to the Foreign Interference Commission, reveal India’s central role in deploying disinformation, coercion, intimidation, and violence to silence Sikh activists in Canada. Reports from NSICOP, Global Affairs Canada, and CSIS detail India’s aggressive use of disinformation and psychological warfare to discredit and malign Sikh activists nationwide. India’s disinformation campaigns have propagated false narratives of sectarian conflict, attempting to mischaracterize anti-India protests as anti-Hindu. Senior CSIS officials have testified to the Commission about the corrosive effects of India’s interference on Canada’s social cohesion, highlighting the urgent need for robust measures to safeguard Canada’s democratic institutions and public discourse from such foreign influence.”
The statement said: “We call upon Canadian authorities to take decisive action against individuals who incite violence or disrupt peaceful protests. Upholding the rights of all individuals to assemble and express their views peacefully is essential, as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Every Canadian, irrespective of their beliefs, deserves the freedom to voice their opinions without fear of violence or retaliation.
“We appreciate Peel Police’s efforts in deterring violent demonstrators and urge continued vigilance in safeguarding community peace and harmony.
“The organized forays of Indian diplomats into Canadian communities appear designed to incite conflict and must cease. We urge Gurdwaras across Canada to remain vigilant and ensure the safety of their congregants. Sikhs in Canada will not be intimidated by threats from India; rather, they will draw strength from the legacy of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, continuing to advocate for justice, Sikh sovereignty, and Khalistan.”
