Summary

Clashes between Sikh activists and Hindu nationalist counterprotesters in Brampton, Ontario, have heightened fears of growing divisions within Canada’s South Asian community.

The violence erupted after Sikh activists protested a visit by Indian officials at a Hindu temple, linking it to alleged Indian government campaigns against Sikh separatists abroad.

Critics say misinformation and Hindu nationalist rhetoric, fueled by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, have escalated tensions.

Community leaders stress the unrest reflects political, not sectarian, conflicts, while calls grow to regulate protests near places of worship to prevent further violence.