A Hindu temple in Brampton has reinstated one of its priests, who was recently suspended in the wake of violent clashes between protesters at Hindu and Sikh places of worship earlier this week.
A statement from Hindu Sabha Mandir Thursday said the priest was suspended for his activities in the altercation “based on preliminary input,” but had been reinstated to his duties “as a result of further review.” The statement did not elaborate on the priest’s actions, or the decision to reinstate him.
Hindu Sabha Mandir said in its statement Thursday that the temple had no prior knowledge of the priest’s involvement in the altercation and did not authorize him to “engage in the activities which recently occurred.”
Hindu Sabha Mandir had suspended the priest following a violent clash outside the temple on Sunday. A statement from the temple earlier this week said the suspension was due to the priest’s “controversial involvement” with protesters that day.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said on X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday that the priest had also spread “violent rhetoric.” Brown said earlier this week he plans to introduce a motion at Brampton city council to explore the possibility of prohibiting protests outside places of worship in the municipality.
On Sunday, a group called Sikhs for Justice held a protest outside the temple, while Indian consular officials were visiting.
Videos that later circulated on social media showed the protesters 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. The videos captured some people using flags as weapons during the violent altercation.
Police officers were called to the scene around noon, Peel police said, and stepped up their presence at the temple afterward.
Sunday clash followed by similar violence in GTA
The initial clash outside Hindu Sabha Mandir was followed by more fighting Sunday, this time in Mississauga at the Malton gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship, after demonstrators at the Brampton temple made their way to Westwood Mall.
There were also further clashes at 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.
The violent altercations come amid rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India over allegations of violence against Canadian Sikhs. Canada’s federal government has accused India’s home minister of being behind several attacks on Sikh activists on Canadian soil. The Indian government denies the accusations.