India on Monday said it was deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada after the violence at a Hindu temple in that country.

"We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario yesterday,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to media queries regarding the violence in Canada.

“We call on the Government of Canada to ensure that all places of worship are protected from such attacks. We also expect that those indulging in violence will be prosecuted. We remain deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada.

“The outreach of our Consular officers to provide services to Indians and Canadian citizens alike will not be deterred by intimidation, harassment and violence," he said.

The India-Canada bilateral relationship has gone south since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a year ago that Canada had evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.

It plummeted after Canada’s deputy foreign minister David Morrison recently told a parliamentary committee in that country that Union home minister Amit Shah had orchestrated intimidation and violence against Sikh separatists in Canada.

Morrison also said he had confirmed Shah’s role to The Washington Post following questions on India’s involvement in the killing of Nijjar.