In a testy exchange in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of sowing the “divisions” that led to the violent clash between Sikh separatists and Hindu worshippers outside a Hindu temple in Brampton on the weekend.
The question period exchange kicked off with Trudeau calling Poilievre’s silence on the violence in South Asian communities “deafening.”
Poilievre accused Trudeau of using the issue to distract from domestic economic issues.
“So he uses divisions here at home. These divisions are the result of him,” Poilievre said.
“Now we see sectarian riots on the streets of Brampton. This never happened before this prime minister. Does he take ownership for the divisions he’s caused and the violence that has resulted?”
WATCH | Poilievre calls on Trudeau to take ownership after ‘sectarian riots’ in Brampton
Repeating a line he’s used often in question period recently, Trudeau called on Poilievre go through the security clearance process so he can be briefed by Canada’s intelligence and security agencies about threats to Canada.
The leaders’ comments add to an already tense police situation that threatens to worsen the already deteriorating diplomatic relationship between Canada and India.
On Monday, police broke up a second day of protests outside a Brampton, Ont., Hindu temple where violent clashes have led to arrests and triggered a public safety alert.
The violence broke out midday Sunday at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in Brampton, as Indian consular officials were visiting.
WATCH | Weapons seen at pro-India protest near Brampton Hindu temple: police
Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan — a proposed independent Sikh homeland in northern India — and clashing with other individuals, including some holding India’s national flag.
Later Sunday, a protest was held outside the Malton gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship on Airport Road in Mississauga.
Tensions flared again Monday when, according to police, a large crowd of protesters again gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.
Police say some participants were wielding weapons.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Sikh advocacy groups said they tried to head for nearby gurdwaras but were redirected by police.
Modi condemns attacks
The violence prompted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue a rare comment at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
“I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats,” he posted on social media.
“Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.”
Relations between the two countries began to fall apart last September when Trudeau said there were credible allegations that the Indian government had links to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India has vehemently rejected the accusation.
WATCH | Trudeau condemns violence at Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras
The relationship deteriorated further last month when the RCMP — first privately and then publicly — accused India of authorizing a campaign to intimidate or kill Canadians.
A senior Canadian official said the scheme was orchestrated by the country’s powerful Home Minister Amit Shah. India has called the claims “absurd and baseless.”
New Delhi has accused the Canadian government of being sympathetic to separatists calling for an independent Sikh homeland.
Both Poilievre and Trudeau have called out the Greater Toronto Area attacks.
“I want to condemn unequivocally the violence we’ve seen over the past few days across the country and emphasize that the individuals who are seeking to foment violence, division and hatred in no way represent the Sikh community or the Hindu community,” Trudeau told reporters Tuesday.
Worsening diplomatic relationship
In a social media post Sunday, Poilievre called the violence targeting worshippers “completely unacceptable.”
“I will unite our people and end the chaos,” he wrote.
The weekend clash spilled into Canadian politics Monday, with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh accusing Liberal backbencher Chandra Arya of mimicking Modi’s speaking points.
His comments came after Arya posted on social media that Khalistani extremists have “infiltrated” Canadian politics and law enforcement.
“No wonder that under the ‘freedom of expression,’ Khalistani extremists are getting a free pass in Canada,” Arya wrote Sunday on X.
“It is very problematic that an elected Canadian official is parroting the lines of a foreign government that engaged in allegations of serious violence and terror against Canadians, so he should stop,” Singh told reporters Monday.
Arya told the Toronto Star that Singh “has zero credibility when it comes to speaking on extremism in Canada” and “refuses to acknowledge the presence of violent Khalistani extremism in Canada.”