A Brampton Hindu temple has suspended one of its priests following his involvement in violent clashes between protesters outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir earlier this week. The temple’s statement cited the priest’s “controversial involvement” in Sunday’s protest but did not provide details. Mayor Patrick Brown, however, alleged the priest had spread “violent rhetoric” and urged the community to reject violence and hate.

The clashes erupted as the group Sikhs for Justice, advocating for a Khalistan Sikh homeland, protested at the temple during an Indian consular visit. Tensions spilled over into Monday night, leading Peel police to issue a public safety alert after reports of weapons on-site. The violent gatherings in Brampton also inspired counter-protests, with groups clashing outside other religious sites in neighboring Mississauga.

Amid rising concerns, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee members distanced themselves from the conflict, emphasizing it is not a religious dispute but one rooted in rising tensions with Indian officials, who they allege are inciting violence against Canadian Sikhs. Calls have intensified from Sikh advocacy groups to restrict Indian consular activities in Canada, asserting they provoke confrontations within Canadian communities.

The confrontations come amid heightened diplomatic strains between Canada and India. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats last month over alleged surveillance of pro-Khalistan activists. Mayor Brown responded to the ongoing violence by proposing a motion to prohibit protests outside places of worship in Brampton, similar to Vaughan’s bylaw restricting demonstrations near sensitive community sites.

Meanwhile, incidents of violence have spread beyond Ontario, with arrests made in Surrey, B.C., after conflicts outside another Hindu temple. As tensions continue, both communities call for peace, with local leaders working to prevent further violence.