Over the Diwali (Festival of lights) weekend (2-3 Nov), violence erupted during demonstrations in Brampton and Mississauga, Canada. The incidents began outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir (temple) in Brampton. Indian consular officials were visiting the temple to provide services related to Indian pensioners and were involved in clashes between Khalistan and Hindutva supporters. Sri Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Malton, Mississauga was also reportedly targeted by Hindutva supporters later that evening. Peel police confirmed one of their off-duty officers participated in the demonstration and has been suspended pending investigation. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau condemned the acts of violence. India’s PM Narendra Modi also condemned the temple incident, calling it a ‘deliberate attack’. Clashes erupted in Surrey, British Columbia as well outside the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir on 3 Nov, as it also hosted Indian consular officials. Earlier, a British Columbia Supreme Court passed an order to establish a buffer zone around the Ross Street Gurdwara in anticipation of expected confrontations between protesters and Indian consular officials on 2 Nov and 16 Nov. At the same time, Canada’s Communications Security Establishment reported that India is using cyber technology to monitor Sikh separatists abroad and has intensified cyber-attacks against Canadian govt. networks. Amid this row, a national advocacy group called Sikh Federation Canada and part of the Global Sikh Federation has been formed to unite Sikh voices across the country. The federation issued several calls to action, urging the Canadian govt. to suspend intelligence agreements with India and for a public inquiry into the Nijjar assassination.
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