Jaishankar Talks Canada’s Extremism with Australia

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Canada Terms Hindu Temple Attack in Canada ‘Deeply Upsetting’

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, November 5: Australia condemned the attacks on Hindus in Canada, saying that the incident in Brampton was “very upsetting”. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday that he discussed the rising extremism in Canada with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

“I think what happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning and you would have seen the statement first by our official spokesperson and also the expression of concern by our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) yesterday. So that should convey to you how deeply we feel about it,” Jaishankar said at a joint press briefing with Wong.

Also Read: Opposition Blames Trudeau after Hindus Attacked in Canada Temple

The Australian foreign minister also expressed deep concerns at the attacks on the Brampton temple in Canada by the extremists. “The incident that took place on Diwali in Canada is deeply upsetting for the faith. The people have a right to peacefully practice their faith,” said the Australian foreign affairs minister.

She underlined that the people have a right to protest peacefully. To questions during the press briefing on Canada’s allegations made against India over attacks on Sikh separatists, the Australian foreign affairs minister said: “We have respect for the judiciary of Canada.”

But Jaishankar was more combative, saying that the extremists in Canada have been given a political voice. “The fact that Indian diplomats have been put under surveillance is just unacceptable. We also support freedom of the people. We also believe that freedom should not be misused,” added Jaishankar.

He also stated that India and Australia discussed the growing extremism in Canada. Incidentally, Canada is a member of ‘Five Eyes’ also consisting of the US, New Zealand, the UK and Canada which share the intelligence.

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It was on the basis of the intelligence shared by the ‘Five Eyes’ that Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed to have made allegations against India over the killing of the Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Modi in a sharp statement yesterday had condemned the attack on Hindu temple in Brampton in Canada. “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,” Modi said in a statement posted on X.

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