Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the "deliberate attack" on a Hindu temple in Canada on Monday (November 4). The incident is considered to be an act of violence related to Sikh separatism, exacerbating the already tense diplomatic relations between India and Canada. Modi issued a statement on the X platform saying: "I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally shocking is the cowardly attempt to intimidate our diplomats."

This incident not only exacerbated the diplomatic differences between the two countries, but also exposed the social unrest caused by religious and ethnic issues in Canada. Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside India. In recent years, some "Khalistan" separatist activists have been active in Canada, seeking to establish an independent Sikh state in India. The deep-seated contradictions involved in this dispute have further exacerbated the deterioration of relations between the two countries.

Behind the "Khalistan" issue, the relationship between the two countries has been frequently hit

Canada's "Khalistan" movement has long been a major concern for the Indian government. This year, the contradictions between the two sides have become more prominent. Canada accused the Indian government of planning to assassinate Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a "Khalistan" leader living in Canada, causing relations between the two countries to take a sharp turn for the worse. Nijjar was a naturalized Canadian citizen and an active member of the movement. He was killed in Vancouver in 2023, triggering a strong protest from the Canadian government against India.

The Indian government firmly denied the allegations and criticized the Canadian government for tolerating and supporting the activities of "Khalistan" separatists, accusing it of accommodating extreme religious elements in the country for a long time and failing to effectively combat religious extremists and separatist forces. However, this was the first time Modi publicly responded to the diplomatic dispute. He said in a statement: "Such violence will never weaken India's determination. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law."

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau spoke out and called for an end to the violence

In response to the violence, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a public statement that the attack was "unacceptable." When the Hindu temple in Brampton was attacked last Sunday (November 3), people holding different flags from both sides confronted each other, and even physical fighting occurred during the conflict. The video of the incident was widely circulated on social media, attracting widespread attention from Canadian society.

Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the incident, saying that the attack was "the work of extremists and separatists" and asked the Canadian government to ensure that all religious sites are protected. He further stated that India is deeply concerned about the safety of Indian nationals in Canada and hopes that the perpetrators of the violence will be punished according to law.

Diplomatic tensions escalate and both sides expel diplomats from each other

As the diplomatic dispute between the two sides intensifies, both India and Canada have taken severe diplomatic actions. Recently, the two countries have expelled each other's ambassadors and other senior diplomats, indicating that the tension in the relationship between the two countries has risen to the formal diplomatic level. Trudeau publicly accused the Modi government of violating Canadian sovereignty and accused the Indian government of threatening the safety of Sikh activists in Canada in an attempt to crack down on anti-India voices through intimidation and violence.

In response, the Indian government strongly refuted the allegations, calling them "absurd and baseless" and denying that Home Minister Amit Shah or any senior officials planned to crack down on Sikh activists in Canada. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that New Delhi has always respected sovereignty and legitimacy and will not interfere in Canada's internal affairs.

Future relations between India and Canada face a test

The temple attack once again highlighted the diplomatic challenges posed by religious and ethnic issues between India and Canada. Although Canada and India have deep economic and cultural ties, issues surrounding the "Khalistan" movement have become a sensitive topic in bilateral relations in recent years. Canada has a large Sikh immigrant community, and some activists actively promote separatism in Canada, making India-Canada relations hidden in conflicts under the surface of cooperation.

Whether this incident will lead to more political consequences remains to be seen. Diplomatic frictions between India and Canada have affected many areas of trade, education and tourism between the two countries. Against the backdrop of the changing global geopolitical landscape, how the two countries can resolve this dispute and rebuild mutual trust has become the focus of attention from all walks of life.

In the future, the relationship between the two countries may need to find a balance at a higher level. As the Sikh community in Canada expands, how India can deal with these separatist activities on the basis of respecting sovereignty and how the Canadian government can properly deal with religious extremism remain long-term challenges facing the two countries.