People's Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier has slammed the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and opposition leaders Jagmeet Singh and Pierre Poilievre for their responses to attack on Hindus in Brampton.
Maxime Bernier alleged that the leaders denied from identifying the attackers as Khalistani extremists as doing so could have offended their voter base. Bernier shared a post on his X handle and wrote, “Can you spot the difference between my tweet and that of the three establishment party leaders?”
He called the three leaders "cowards" and said, “Not one of these cowards dares to even name the Khalistani Sikhs who are committing the violence. They're afraid to offend some voters, even though Khalistani supporters are a minority of Sikh Canadians.”
“This complacency explains why Khalistani extremism keeps growing in this country,” he further stated along with the screenshots of leaders' social media posts.
This criticism was done after an attack on devotees near the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton on Sunday. As per the reports, the devotees were targeted by individuals believed to be affiliated with the Khalistani groups. Peel Regional Police were stationed outside the temple but no arrests have yet been done.
Previously, Bernier had posted a video on X, where he showed the Khalistani attacking worshippers at the Brampton Hindu temple.
“Nothing to worry about though because diversity is our strength!!!”, he wrote in a sarcastic way.
Independent MP Kevin Vuoung had also condemned the attack by the Khalistani extremists on the Hindu devotees and stated, “Alarming to see an attack on Hindu Canadians. From Khalistani extremists to terrorist cosplayers, Canada has become a safe harbour for radicals. Our leaders are failing to safeguard Hindus as they have Christians and Jewish Canadians from violence. We all deserve to worship in peace.”
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau also calling it “unacceptable” and expressed his support for religious freedom and community safety.
“The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely,” Trudeau wrote on X, also thanking Peel Regional Police for their quick response.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre described the attacks as “completely unacceptable.” He assured Canadians that the Conservative Party stands strongly against such violence and pledged to unite people and end the chaos.
“Completely unacceptable to see violence targeting worshippers at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today," he posted, adding that "Conservatives condemn this violence unequivocally.”
New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh, who has faced criticism in the past for his alleged support of the Khalistani movement has joined other leaders in condemning the violence.
“Every Canadian must be free to visit their place of worship in peace. I unequivocally condemn the acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir,” he wrote on X, urging community leaders to call for peace.
However, none of these leaders called Khalistani by their name in their posts. It is worth mentioning that both Trudeau and Poilivre have attended events in the past where Sikh separatists have raised anti-India slogans.
In April, as Trudeau walked up to the stage for his address at a public event on Khalsa day, ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans were raised, as a video that went viral on social media at that time.
The acts were repeated when Poilievre approached the stage to begin his address at the same event. New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow were also in attendance at the said event.
Sunday's attack on Hindus has only highlighted concerns about rising religious intolerance in Canada, echoing previous incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu temples in Windsor, Mississauga, and Brampton.
Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor was defaced with anti-India graffiti, triggering strong reactions from Indian officials.
India-Canada relations remain strained following last year's diplomatic controversy when Trudeau government accused India behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has consistently denied these claims and has called them absurd and motivated, while accusing Canada of promoting anti-India extremist activities on its soil.