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Brampton Mayor announces bill to prohibit protests outside places of worship

Echo of the violent incidents outside Brampton Hindu Temple and Malton Singh Sabha Gurdwara was heard in the House of Commonshen it resumed its sitting on Nov. 4 as Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown announced to bring in a Bill in his City Council to prohibit protests outside places of worship.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shake hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the family photo with invited guests at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, August 25, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo / Reuters

Echo of the violent incidents outside Brampton Hindu Temple and Malton Singh Sabha Gurdwara was heard in the House of Commonshen it resumed its sitting on Nov. 4 as Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown announced to bring in a Bill in his City Council to prohibit protests outside places of worship.

Liberal MP Ruby Sahota, who raised the issue in the House of Commons, expressed her deep concern at the incidents and held that “everyone  in our community  deserves to feel safe and respected  in his or her place of worship.”

She took to “X” and said: ”I am troubled to hear about the recent acts of violence outside the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton. Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe and respected in their places of worship. There is no room for such actions in our society and I strongly denounce this violence.

“I have spoken with Police Chief Nishan and have confidence that Peel Regional Police will act swiftly to protect our community and hold those responsible to account.”

Speaking in the House of Commons, she said that she went to Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras to join members of the Indo-Canadian community in celebrating Diwali. But incidents of violence, first outside the Hindu Temple, and then outside Malton Gurdwara, had shaken her.



She also assailed the official Opposition Party, the Conservatives, for cancelling the Diwali event on Parliament Hill. She complimented the ruling Liberal party caucus for holding the Diwali celebrations on the Hill on Monday. The event, she said, was largely attended.

Chandra Arya, also of the ruling Liberal, the main organiser of the Diwali celebrations on Parliament Hill, was also on X and wrote: “I was pleased to host Diwali on Parliament Hill. We also used the opportunity to raise the flag of the Hindu sacred symbol Aum on Parliament Hill. Great turnout with participants from Ottawa, the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and many other places. The event was supported by 67 Hindu and Indo-Canadian organisations across Canada. The added pleasure this year was Diwali is also part of the Hindu Heritage Month across Canada. My sincere thanks to all those who attended, volunteers and artists of excellent cultural performances at the event.”

Meanwhile, Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown said that he plans to bring a bill before the Brampton Council to prohibit protests at places of worship. “I would also request Mississauga Council to enact a similar law,” he said.

Patrick Brown was on “X” saying “I will be bringing a motion to our Brampton City Council which would look at prohibiting protests at places of worship. Places of worship should be safe spaces that are free of violence and intimidation. I have asked our City solicitor to look into the legality of such a by-law for our next scheduled meeting of the City Council.”

Meanwhile, the Hindu Maha Sabha had given a call for holding a peaceful protest outside the Brampton temple to condemn the incidents of violence that took place on Nov. 3.

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