Modi breaks silence on row with Canada, criticises targeting of Indian diplomats

Indian PM condemns attack on Hindu temple in Canada as bilateral ties worsen

- Nirmala Ganapathy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned a "deliberate attack" on a Hindu temple in Canada and criticised "cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats", in his first comments on a diplomatic face-off with Canada.

Mr Modi, who has built a robust outreach particularly to the Hindu diaspora, also asked the Canadian government to "ensure justice and uphold the rule of law".

"Such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve," he wrote in a Nov 4 post on social media platform X.

He was reacting to violence at the Hindu Mahasabha Mandir or temple in Brampton in the Canadian province of Ontario on Nov 3.

Videos, verified by Canadian media, had shown Sikh separatists, carrying Khalistani flags, clashing with Hindu devotees.

The Sikh activists are seeking a separate state of Khalistan carved out of the Indian state of Punjab.

Mr Modi's remarks came days after Ottawa accused his close aide, Home Minister Amit Shah, of planning a campaign of violence and gathering intelligence against Sikh separatists in Canada.

Ties between India and Canada have been on a steady downward spiral amid allegations of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, with the naming of Mr Shah seen as a tipping point, noted Indian analysts.

India lodged a diplomatic protest on Nov 1, and dismissed as "absurd and baseless" Canada's allegations against Mr Shah, the second most powerful politician in India after Mr Modi.