A Hindu temple in Brampton has suspended one of its priests in the wake of violent clashes between protesters at Hindu and Sikh places of worship earlier this week.
A statement from the Hindu Sabha Mandir says the suspension was due to the priest’s “controversial involvement” with protesters on Sunday but did not elaborate.
CBC News has reached out to the temple for more information.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the priest spread “violent rhetoric,” in a post on X Tuesday evening asking the community not to respond to violence and hate.
The violence initially broke out at the Hindu temple in Brampton Sunday afternoon, while Indian consular officials were visiting. Officers were dispatched to the property around noon, Peel police said.
Later in the day, demonstrators made their way to the Westwood Mall in neighbouring Mississauga, according to the World Sikh Organization of Canada. More fighting broke out a short time later at the Malton gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship on Airport Road in Mississauga.
More clashes broke out outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir Monday evening, prompting Peel police to issue a public safety alert, after they said some participants were wielding weapons at a demonstration at the temple.
WATCH | More violence erupts outside Hindu temple Monday evening:
Peel police’s public order unit eventually dispersed the groups.
The Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council denounced the violence outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in a statement Sunday, urging people to “exercise restraint, promote dialogue and work together towards peace that is respective of all communities.”