Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve, says Prime Minister Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Canada, along with repeated and “cowardly” attempts to intimidate Indian diplomats, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Monday (November 4, 2024).
Maintaining that such acts of violence would never weaken India’s resolve, Prime Minister Modi called for justice and the upholding of the rule of law by the Canadian government.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi said: "I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.”
Prime Minister Modi was responding to the violence on Sunday (November 3, 2024) orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp co-organized with the Hindu Sabha Mandir, Brampton, near Toronto. The High Commission of India in Ottawa and Consulates General of India in Vancouver and Toronto organise consular camps during this period, for the benefit and ease of local life certificate beneficiaries, Canadian as well as Indian.
Meanwhile, condemning the violence, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called on the Canadian government to protect all places of worship from such attacks and prosecute those indulging in violence. Responding to media queries regarding the violence in Brampton, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also expressed deep concern about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada. Indian consular officials would not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence, he added.
“We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario yesterday,” the MEA Spokesperson stated.
“We call on the Government of Canada to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks. We also expect that those indulging in violence will be prosecuted. We remain deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada,” MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal added.
“The outreach of our Consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens alike will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence,” the MEA Spokesperson maintained.
Reacting to the violence, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa said it was deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organized by India’s Consulates with the fullest cooperation of local co-organizers.
A statement issued by the High Commission added that they also remained “very concerned” for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demand such events are organized in the first place. Despite these efforts by anti-India elements, the Consulate was able to issue more than 1,000 life certificates to the Indian and Canadian applicants, the High Commission stated.
The Indian High Commission maintained that holding similar consular camps scheduled for later would be dependent on the security provided by local authorities.
The attack on the Hindu temple comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. India, which had designated Nijjar as a terrorist, has consistently rejected the charge, calling them “absurd” and “politically motivated”.
Maintaining that such acts of violence would never weaken India’s resolve, Prime Minister Modi called for justice and the upholding of the rule of law by the Canadian government.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi said: "I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.”
Prime Minister Modi was responding to the violence on Sunday (November 3, 2024) orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp co-organized with the Hindu Sabha Mandir, Brampton, near Toronto. The High Commission of India in Ottawa and Consulates General of India in Vancouver and Toronto organise consular camps during this period, for the benefit and ease of local life certificate beneficiaries, Canadian as well as Indian.
Meanwhile, condemning the violence, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called on the Canadian government to protect all places of worship from such attacks and prosecute those indulging in violence. Responding to media queries regarding the violence in Brampton, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also expressed deep concern about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada. Indian consular officials would not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence, he added.
“We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario yesterday,” the MEA Spokesperson stated.
“We call on the Government of Canada to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks. We also expect that those indulging in violence will be prosecuted. We remain deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada,” MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal added.
“The outreach of our Consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens alike will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence,” the MEA Spokesperson maintained.
Reacting to the violence, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa said it was deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organized by India’s Consulates with the fullest cooperation of local co-organizers.
A statement issued by the High Commission added that they also remained “very concerned” for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demand such events are organized in the first place. Despite these efforts by anti-India elements, the Consulate was able to issue more than 1,000 life certificates to the Indian and Canadian applicants, the High Commission stated.
The Indian High Commission maintained that holding similar consular camps scheduled for later would be dependent on the security provided by local authorities.
The attack on the Hindu temple comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. India, which had designated Nijjar as a terrorist, has consistently rejected the charge, calling them “absurd” and “politically motivated”.