The Indo-Canadian community has welcomed a recent Ontario Superior Court decision that prohibits pro-Khalistan protesters from interfering with a consular camp hosted at the Shree Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Scarborough, Toronto. The injunction, issued on November 28, 2024, establishes a 100-meter no-protest zone around the temple between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on November 30. This camp, organized by India’s Consulate in Toronto, will assist pensioners with life certificate formalities.
The injunction came after rising tensions surrounding consular camps in Canada, some of which have been targeted by Khalistani groups. Earlier in November, the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton witnessed a violent protest where radicals disrupted activities, leading to arrests. Similarly, Sikh secessionist groups had threatened to protest at the upcoming Scarborough camp.
Community organizations, including the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians and the Coalition of Hindus of North America, expressed relief and support for the ruling, calling it a significant step to ensure religious freedom and public safety. They urged Canadian authorities to consistently uphold such protections against politically motivated harassment. The Hindu Canadian Foundation called for accountability, while the Canadian Organisation for Hindu Heritage Education described the ruling as precedent-setting.
This decision mirrors a similar injunction in Vancouver earlier this month, which allowed a consular camp at the Khalsa Diwan Society’s Ross Street gurdwara to proceed without incident. Alongside the Scarborough event, additional camps are scheduled in Surrey, British Columbia, and London, Ontario, this weekend.
The ruling underscores ongoing tensions between the Indian diaspora and Khalistani activists in Canada, as well as the broader community’s push for legal safeguards to maintain order during religious and cultural events.
