Diwali celebrations disrupted by Khalistani extremists in Ontario, Canada; Hindus attacked during religious festivities
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 
11 November, 2023
Case Summary
In Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hindus were attacked, and Diwali celebrations were disrupted by a group of Khalistani extremists. Videos of the incident went viral on social media, showing men carrying Khalistan flags and raising pro-Khalistan slogans, including “Khalistan Zindabad”, while confronting the Hindus, who had gathered to celebrate the festival. The incident occurred on 12 November 2023, when the Hindus had gathered in the parking lot of Westwood Square Mall in Malton to celebrate the festival of Diwali. During this time, Khalistani extremists arrived and began disrupting the Diwali event. In the video, the Khalistanis were seen picking up objects from the ground and throwing them towards Hindus participating in the celebrations. The objects included rubbish and stones, which were hurled at the Hindus. The confrontation took place in the presence of a large gathering, and police officers were subsequently seen in the videos attempting to control the situation and instructing the crowds to move back. Following the incident, Peel Regional Police confirmed that they had received information about a disturbance in the mall's parking lot shortly after 9 PM local time. On 13 November 2023, the police stated that they were investigating the incident that had occurred at Westwood Square Mall on 12 November and were taking appropriate measures in coordination with the City of Mississauga. They also directed enquiries concerning by-law enforcement to the city's By-law Enforcement department. Local representatives criticised the handling of the incident. Mississauga City Councillor Carolyn Parrish, who represented Ward 5, expressed her dismay over the lack of preparedness at Westwood Square and the police response. In a post on X, she described the response by Peel Regional Police as extremely poor and criticised the presence of a local community police station in the plaza for having failed to improve conditions for residents of Malton.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Attack not resulting in death. Within it, the sub-category selected here is - Attacked for Hindu identity. In several cases, Hindus are attacked merely for their Hindu identity without any perceived provocation. A classic example of this category of religiously motivated hate crime is a murder in 2016. 7 ISIS terrorists were convicted for shooting a school principal in Kanpur because they got ‘triggered’ seeing the Kalava on his wrist and tilak that he had put. In this, the Hindu victim had offered no provocation except for his Hindu religious identity. The motivation for the murder was purely religious, driven by religious supremacy. Such cases where Hindus are targeted merely for their religious identity would be documented as a hate crime under this category. The incident constituted a hate crime because the pro-Khalistan elements disrupted a Hindu religious celebration and directed hostility towards the Hindu gathering on the occasion of Diwali. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism and holds immense religious, spiritual and cultural significance for Hindus across the world. The festival symbolises the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Hindus observe the festival through prayers, puja, the worship of deities such as Goddess Lakshmi and Bhagwan Ganesh, the lighting of lamps, and gatherings with family and the wider community. Diwali is not merely a cultural celebration but an important expression of Hindu faith, identity and religious tradition. Consequently, disrupting Diwali celebrations through intimidation and physical aggression interferes with the community's ability to peacefully practise and publicly express its religious beliefs. The conduct interfered with the ability of Hindus to peacefully observe and celebrate their religious festival in a public space. The communal dimension of the incident was reflected in the ideological nature of the confrontation. The presence of Khalistani extremists, their display of Khalistan flags and the raising of slogans such as “Khalistan Zindabad” demonstrated that the confrontation was taking place in the context of a wider ideological hostility surrounding Indian identity and, by extension, Hindu identity. The choice to confront Hindus, who were peacefully celebrating Diwali, demonstrated an attempt to intimidate and disrupt a community gathering through aggression. The “Khalistan Zindabad” slogans reinforced this religious dimension, as by calling for the establishment of Khalistan, the perpetrators were asserting a separate Sikh political and religious identity against the Indian national identity that they reject and associate with a Hindu-majority collective. The slogan therefore carried an element of religious exclusivism: it asserted the supremacy and separate political existence of one religious identity while rejecting the national collective identified with the Hindu majority. It is important to note here that Khalistani separatists perceive India as a Hindu collectivity and harbour specific animosity toward Hindus and their faith. Their demand for a separate state stems from the belief that the Sikh religious identity is distinct from India's perceived Hindu identity, much like Islam. Therefore, threats against India or any of its states and turning it into Khalistan are inherently anti-Hindu and reflect deep-seated hostility, constituting a hate crime. The attack on Hindus during Diwali celebrations was particularly significant because they were targeted while peacefully coming together to observe one of their most important religious festivals. Rather than being allowed to celebrate their faith and participate in the festivities without interference, the Hindu gathering was subjected to intimidation and physical aggression by pro-Khalistan extremists. The act of hurling objects at Hindu participants while they were celebrating Diwali demonstrated a blatant disregard for their religious sentiments and their right to practise and publicly express their faith. Targeting Hindus in the midst of a religious celebration also conveyed an intimidating message to the wider Hindu community that even peaceful expressions of their religious identity and participation in public festivities could invite hostility and aggression. The conduct also had a wider intimidating effect on the Hindu community in Canada. Public celebrations of Diwali provide Hindus with an opportunity to practise their faith, preserve their religious traditions and participate in community life without fear of intimidation. Disrupting such celebrations through aggressive confrontation sends a message that Hindu religious expression and community gatherings can be challenged or interrupted through intimidation. This can discourage Hindus from openly participating in religious festivities and create an atmosphere of insecurity around the public expression of their faith. The incident therefore affected not only the individuals present at Westwood Square Mall but also the broader sense of religious security and freedom among Hindus in the surrounding community.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Sikh Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
