The Brampton Triveni Temple in Canada has called off a consular event after the Canadian police warned of a "high and imminent" threat of violent protests. The Life Certificate event, which was organized by the Consulate General of India in Toronto, was set to take place on November 17 at the temple. This event was part of the consulate's series of camps aimed at issuing Life Certificates for pension purposes.
On November 11, the temple authorities announced the cancellation of the event, citing intelligence from Peel Regional Police about an "extremely high and imminent threat level" of violent protests. The temple said in a statement, "We must make the appropriate decision to cancel to ensure the safety of Brampton Triveni Mandir devotees, community visitors, and the general public." The temple also expressed sadness, stating that Canadians now feel unsafe visiting Hindu temples in the country.
The temple authorities called on the Peel Regional Police to address the threats circulating against the temple and provide security assurances to the Canadian Hindu community and the public.
The decision to cancel the event came just days after protests, involving Khalistani flags, erupted at the Hindu Sabha Temple. These protests disrupted an event co-organized by the temple and the Indian Consulate in Brampton.
Peel Regional Police issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that no direct threats had been received against any places of worship. In a statement shared on X, the police said they were aware of the community's concerns about demonstrations and potential threats at places of worship but confirmed, "we have not received any direct threats against any place of worship in the Region of Peel."
To reassure the public, Peel Regional Police have increased their presence around places of worship. The police also noted their ongoing efforts to engage with community leaders and local organizations to address safety concerns and ease tensions. They emphasized that the organizers of the consular event agreed to postpone it to allow tensions to calm and reduce the risk of negative consequences for the community.
Following the protests at the Hindu Sabha Temple on November 3, the Consulate General of India in Toronto had announced the cancellation of some consular camps after Canadian security authorities expressed their inability to provide adequate protection for the event organizers.
In response to the disruption, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern for the safety of Indian nationals in Canada. India condemned the attack and called for the prosecution of those responsible for the violence.
The incident comes amidst heightened tensions between India and Canada, which worsened following allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September of possible Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
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