Canadian Hindus confront Khalistani activists outside Hindu temple in Surrey

As the incidents of violence by pro-Khalistan activists rise in Canada, turbulence was witnessed in Surrey County on Sunday after some Indians confronted members of the pro-Khalistan movement outside a Hindu temple. The clash broke out after some Khalistani activists gathered outside the Lakshmi Narayan temple in Surrey and started raising pro-Khalistani slogans. Visuals obtained by Republic show a Khalistani group with flags charging towards the temple as Hindus confronted them while raising their own Saffron flags from across the other side of the road. 

Several Hindu temples in Canada have been vandalized by pro-Khalistani activists in the recent past, and the rise of the movement there has adversely affected ties between New Delhi and Ottawa. To deal with the situation, Canadian police were deployed in the middle of the road to maintain the law and order in the area. In the video, police were seen monitoring the traffic on the road, so that the demonstrations did not affect the daily lives of Canadians.

Canadian lawmaker had urged for security

Earlier this week, the Indian-origin Member of Parliament Chandra Arya urged the Canadian authorities to provide security outside the temple. In his post on X, formally known as Twitter, Arya mentioned that he was contacted by members of the temple community who were worried about their safety. The warning came a week after Khalistani supporters verbally abused a Sikh family outside a gurdwara in Canada. “Last week Khalistan supporters verbally abused a Sikh family outside a Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey BC, according to some reports.  Now it appears the same Khalistan group wants to create trouble at the Hindu Laxmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey,” Arya wrote on X. 

“All these are being done in the name of freedom of speech and expression. Like a broken record, I am again asking Canadian authorities to step in and take action. Hindu temples have been attacked many times during the last couple of years. Hate crimes are being committed against Hindu-Canadians. Allowing these things to continue to be done openly and publicly is not acceptable,” he lamented.

New York witnesses similar incident

Earlier today, the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu was mobbed and heckled by a group of pro-Khalistani elements. The incident took place while Sandhu was visiting the Hicksville Gurdwara, located in Long Island, New York. 

The Indian envoy was visiting the gurudwara to offer prayers on the occasion of Gurupurab. Sandhu shared some glimpses of his visit to the Gurudwara. “Privileged to join the local Sangat, including from Afghanistan, at Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island in celebrating Gurupurab- listened to Kirtan, spoke about Guru Nanak’s everlasting message of togetherness, unity, and equality, partook langar, and sought blessings for all,” Sandhu wrote on X.