Hindu priest suspended for 'violent rhetoric' in Canada's Brampton, reinstated after being 'cleared of any wrongdoing'
In a video that had gone viral on social media in the wake of the protests that erupted in Brampton, the priest was allegedly seen making 'violent threats'. However, according to the Hindu Forum for Canada, the priest was interrupted and other people started to speak, which was then misinterpreted as hateful rhetoric.
Amid the ongoing tensions between Sikhs and Hindus in the Canadian city of Brampton, the Hindu Sabha has announced that a temple priest, who was earlier suspended for his alleged violent rhetoric, has been reinstated. According to the Hindu Canadian Foundation, the priest, Rajender Prasad, was reinstated after he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
CREDIT: ANI
Hindu priest reinstated
In a statement, the Hindu Sabha said that Prasad was not authorised or permitted by the organisation for his recent activities, due to which he was suspended.
"However, following a thorough review, Prasad has been reinstated to his duties and responsibilities at Hindu Sabha," the statement said.
Rajender Prasad has been reinstated as the temple priest, cleared of any wrongdoing. The current situation reveals an ecosystem seemingly designed to defame Hindu Canadians and the Hindu community.@patrickbrownont Your role in this matter appears questionable, as you have¡ https://t.co/f2O8Yetwy7 pic.twitter.com/kJQLaIksUy
¡ª Hindu Canadian Foundation (HCF) (@officialHinduCF) November 8, 2024
'Mayor tarnished Hindu priest's reputation'
While making the announcement, the Hindu Canadian Foundation also accused Brampton's Mayor, Patrick Brown, of tarnishing the priest's reputation by posting about him on official accounts without evidence or proper inquiry.
What happened at the Hindu Sabha temple
In a video that had gone viral on social media in the wake of the protests that erupted in Brampton after pro-Khalistani groups disrupted an event organised by the Indian Consulate at the Hindu Sabha temple last week, the priest was allegedly seen making 'violent threats'.
Hate speech, open threats and mob gatherings. Temple priest is saying this while addressing mob in Canada Temple.
¡ª Harpreet (@harpreet4567) November 4, 2024
This is all familiar to Sikhs. Nothing changed in 40 years.
Terrorist always promote terror no matter where he goes. #cdnpoli
pic.twitter.com/AaOaVR17ck
What Hindu Forum said
However, according to the Hindu Forum for Canada, the priest was interrupted and other people started to speak, which was then misinterpreted as hateful rhetoric attributed to the priest himself.
"Multiple video recordings from various angles confirm that Hindus were gathered peacefully within their place of worship¡ªa right protected under Canadian law¡ªand were simply exercising their freedom to assemble," it said.
CREDIT: ANI
The tensions between Sikhs and Hindus in Canada come at a time when India and Canada are involved in an unprecedented stand-off over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada has accused agents of the Indian government of killing Nijjar, who was shot dead in June 2023, in British Columbia. India, which has rejected the allegations, has accused Canada of harbouring Khalistani terrorists in the country.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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