Guwahati, Assam — Dr. (Hafiz) Rafiqul Islam, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA and Party General Secretary, has condemned the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, calling the incident “unfortunate” and demanding that Canadian authorities take strict action against those responsible.
Expressing solidarity with the Hindu community, Dr. Islam urged the Canadian government to “bring the culprits under the purview of the law and impose the harshest punishment to deter any future attacks on religious places.”
Dr. Islam emphasized that Canada should take the incident seriously, underscoring the need for stringent measures to protect places of worship and religious minorities. He also highlighted the responsibility of the Indian government, urging dialogue between India and Canada to prevent such incidents from escalating in the future.
The temple attack, which occurred on Sunday outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, saw clashes between radicals and worshippers, with video footage showing alarming scenes of confrontation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack, attributing it to pro-Khalistani extremists. In his first official statement since recent escalations, Modi expressed his dismay on the microblogging platform X, saying, “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.”
This incident marks a deepening of the existing tensions between India and Canada, which have been strained by a series of incidents involving Khalistani activism. Both Dr. Islam and PM Modi’s statements reflect growing concerns over violence targeting the Indian diaspora in Canada, with both leaders calling for swift justice and efforts to safeguard the community from further attacks.
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