Canadian MP Chandra Arya, following an attack on Hindus at a Brampton temple, criticised politicians who position Hindus and Sikhs against each other, clarifying that Hindu-Canadians and Sikhs stand united against Khalistanis. He said that due to certain politicians’ actions and Khalistani influence, many Canadians incorrectly associate all Sikhs with Khalistanis.
“Politicians are deliberately avoiding recognising and mentioning Khalistanis as responsible for this attack or are shifting the blame to other entities. They are misleading Canadians by framing this as an issue between Hindus and Sikhs,” Arya, a member of Parliament from Nepean, Ontario, said in a post on X on Friday.
“Politicians are portraying Hindus and Sikhs as opposing sides regarding the attack on the temple by Khalistani extremists. This picture is simply not true. The two sides are actually Hindu-Canadians and the vast majority of Sikh-Canadians on one side, and Khalistanis on the other,” he added.
Arya’s remarks comes after several Canadian politicians termed the Brampton incident as a Hindu-Sikh community conflict.
The incident occurred on November 3 at a Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Ontario’s Greater Toronto Area, where individuals carrying Khalistani flags confronted devotees and disrupted an event jointly organised by the temple and Indian Consulate.
Arya “speaking on behalf of Hindu-Canadians and most Sikh-Canadians,” condemned the Khalistani extremists’ attack, highlighting that Hindus regularly visit Gurudwaras and Sikhs attend Hindu temples in Canada.
“Politicians may try their best to divide Hindus and Sikhs. We can-and must-prove them wrong. We, as Hindus and Sikhs, will not and should not allow vested interests to divide us for their political gain,” said Arya.
Indo-Canadian relations deteriorated significantly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September that Indian agents might have been involved in Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar‘s death.
India dismissed these allegations as “absurd.” Nijjar, who held Canadian citizenship, was classified as a terrorist by India.
India has consistently highlighted that the primary concern between the nations revolves around Canada providing sanctuary to pro-Khalistan elements who operate freely on Canadian territory.
Following its firm rejection of Ottawa’s allegations, India has removed six Canadian diplomats and withdrawn its high commissioner Sanjay Verma along with other specific officials from Canada.
Arya, who has previously addressed this matter, referenced Sikh community leader and former British Columbia Premier Ujjal Dosanjh’s observation that most Sikhs prefer to distance themselves from Khalistan but remain silent due to fears of violent consequences.
According to Arya, Dosanjh noted that whilst Khalistani supporters oversee numerous Gurudwaras in Canada, the silent Sikh majority retains influence over electoral outcomes.
“Due to the deliberate actions of some politicians and the influence of Khalistanis, Canadians now mistakenly equate Khalistanis with Sikhs,” he said, adding, Hindus and Sikhs alike must educate Canadians “that we stand united in our fight against Khalistani extremists and their political backers.”
He urged Canadian Hindus and Sikhs to request community leaders to restrict political figures from speaking at events or temples unless they openly denounce Khalistani extremism.
In recent developments, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has recognised the presence of Khalistan supporters whilst clarifying they are not representative of the entire Sikh community.
These statements emerged during recent Diwali celebrations at Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions with India regarding Nijjar’s death.
“There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. Similarly, there are supporters of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians,” Trudeau said.