Why mum on Khalistanis? Trudeau, Hindu minister questioned after temple attack

Videos of a pro-Khalistani mob attacking devotees in the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, went viral on Monday. The group that barged into the temple premises and attacked the devotees was seen holding Khalistani flags. There was no doubt about the identity of the attackers. While Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a Hindu MP, criticised the attack, they tried to whitewash the fact that the attackers were pro-Khalistani supporters. Several eminent Canadians have questioned their selective silence over the identity of the temple attackers.

Trudeau, while condemning the attack on the temple, said that every Canadian had the right to practice their faith freely. He, however, was criticised for not condemning "Khalistani extremism" and giving it a free pass.

"The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely," Trudeau wrote on X. That term Khalistani was conspicuous by its absence.

Trudeau named and thanked the Peel Regional Police for protecting the community and investigating the incident. However, the Peel Police is being criticised for its high-handedness and "bias".

According to the Hindu Canadian Foundation, women and children were also attacked. Police personnel, members of the community said, attacked Hindus, who called them for help.

Sikhs for Justice, a banned pro-Khalistani group, said its supporters were protesting the presence of Indian consular officials who had come to assist in administrative services.

The Indian High Commission was providing Canadian-Indians with essential services which were targeted by anti-India forces.

The clashes took place during Diwali celebrations amid rising India-Canada tensions.

It was not just Trudeau who stayed away from naming the Khalistanis. Even the Leader of Opposition in Canada, Pierre Poilievre, and New Democratic Party leader and former Trudeau ally, Jagmeet Singh, condemned the violence without mentioning the pro-Khalistani attackers.

"Completely unacceptable to see violence targeting worshippers at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today," wrote Poilievre, Carleton MP and Leader of Opposition.

"All Canadians should be free to practice their faith in peace. Conservatives condemn this violence unequivocally. I will unite our people and end the chaos," he added.

Poilievre's selective approach was on display after he pulled out of a Diwali event without providing any explanation. Hindu Canadians saw the Leader of the Opposition staying away from the event, in its 24th year, as "betrayal" of the community.

Understandably, Jagmeet Singh, the NDP chief and a pro-Khalistani, too stayed mute on the identity of the attackers.

"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," wrote Jagmeet Singh on X.

Even a Hindu minister from Trudeau's party chose not to name the Khalistanis.

"I’m concerned about reports of unacceptable violent attacks at the Hindu Sabha @officialHinduCF temple in Brampton. All religions, Hindus included, have the right to attend places of worship and practice their religion without such assaults. I understand that law enforcement is on the scene," wrote Anita Anand, the Canadian Transport Minister.

Anand is the first Hindu woman to be elected as a Canadian MP and a Cabinet Minister.

The video of the attack came out at a time when relations between India and Canada hit an all-time low.

Canada has denied India's request to act against Khalistani terrorists in Canada and has accused India of targeting Khalistani individuals in Canada, including allegations of involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The silence of Canadian leaders has attracted vocal criticism. Eminent Canadians are slamming the Trudeau government over its silence and being soft on Khalistani extremists.

Former MP Maxime Bernier called out their duplicity.

"Can you spot the difference between my tweet and that of the three establishment party leaders?," he asked on X.

He talked about the tweets of Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh and Pierre Poilievre.

"Not one of these cowards dares to even name the KHALISTANI SIKHS who are committing the violence. They’re afraid to offend some voters, even though Khalistani supporters are a minority of Sikh Canadians," he added.

He blamed the government's complacency for the growing 'Khalistani extremism in the country'.

A veteran Canadian journalist also criticised Trudeau's government.

"You named India just based on alleged allegations last year in parliament but here you have video evidence of khalistani attack on hindu mandir but you will not utter word khalistani. People know where you stand! People also know why khalistanis are becoming aggressive everyday," Balraj Deol, who has been a journalist in Canada for 21 years wrote on X.

An Indian-origin Liberal MP, Chandra Arya, also took to X to call out the Canadian government.

"A red line has been crossed by Canadian Khalistani extremists today. The attack by Khalistanis on the Hindu-Canadian devotees inside the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton shows how deep and brazen has Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada," Chandra Arya wrote, sharing the video of the attack.

"There is a small grain of truth in the reports that, in addition to the Canadian political apparatus, Khalistanis have effectively infiltrated our law enforcement agencies," he added.

"No wonder that under the 'freedom of expression' Khalistani extremists are getting a free pass in Canada. As I have been saying for long, Hindu-Canadians, for the security and safety of our community, need to step up and assert their rights and hold politicians accountable," MP Arya concluded.

Canada is witnessing a rise in Khalistani activities and gang culture linked to it. It is not just a threat to the Hindus there but to all law-abiding Canadians. If the Canadian government is serious about tackling this extremism, the starting point will be to name and shame the attackers. For now, it is being complicit in the crime by being silent.