Ottawa, April 8 (NationPress) The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), a prominent global advocacy group, has vocally criticized the targeted demonstrations by Khalistani Extremists based in Canada (CBKE) outside Hindu temples situated in the Canadian cities of Brampton and Surrey, highlighting incidents of significant harassment.

CoHNA reported that these protests occurred on April 5 during the celebrations of Hanuman Jayanti, drawing large crowds of Hindu believers at temples throughout Canada.

Notably, the protests coincided with Easter weekend and the Jewish observance of Passover, causing disruptions that affected neighborhoods with families of various faiths who were also celebrating their religious events.

Despite the police-enforced buffer zones set by Canadian authorities, CoHNA stated that temple visitors faced harassment, including past graphic imagery related to violence against women, while children were exposed to “loud, abusive slogans”.

Although local authorities deemed Sunday’s occurrences as “orderly” due to police oversight, CoHNA cautioned against associating crowd control with actual public safety.

“While Khalistani provocateurs engage in extreme sloganeering, the responsibility falls on worshippers to maintain peace — they are encouraged to avoid confrontation, adjust their movements, and navigate a situation they did not instigate,” remarked Rishabh Sarswat, CoHNA Canada President.

He continued, “Public safety should not be simplified to crowd management. CoHNA is not advocating for prohibitions on symbols or speech but urges authorities to consider context and intention while ensuring the right to access places of worship without intimidation.”

While CBKE asserts that the protests target India's activities at temples rather than Hindus themselves, CoHNA entirely disputes this narrative.

“Hindu temples operate as independent institutions with the same rights as any other Canadian religious organization to invite guests and host activities of their choosing — including consular services for elderly Canadians of Indian descent seeking pensions and life certificates. Decisions regarding who a temple chooses to host do not belong to the CBKE,” it emphasized.

Addressing the CBKE’s “ongoing pattern of provocation and intimidation” at Hindu temples, CoHNA pointed out that the targeting of the Triveni Mandir in Brampton exemplifies how Khalistani extremists view any demonstration of Hindu identity as a “valid site for political confrontation.”

“This temple, like many others in the Greater Toronto Area, was established and is still managed by the Caribbean Hindu community — a fact that highlights the emptiness of the CBKE’s attempt to portray such institutions as extensions of the Indian state,” CoHNA concluded.