East Indian community in Sudbury united, despite tensions in GTA

East Indians in Sudbury are united The tensions that exist in the GTA between Hindus and Sikhs are not a reality in Greater Sudbury, officials said Friday.

The India Canada Association held a press conference in Sudbury on Friday morning to reassure the public that clashes, violence and tensions in the Greater Toronto Area involving Sikh and Hindu communities are not happening here.

Members of the East Indian community in Sudbury who are Sikh or Hindu gathered at Tom Davies Square to share a message with the entire community.

"Mainly to assure the community of Sudbury that we have no religious fights between the Hindus and Sikhs in this community or any other religion," said Dr. Rayudu Koka, president of the India Canada Association of Sudbury.

"We work in harmony, live in harmony together. We go to each other’s functions, support each other in the community and we have no problems like what you are seeing in southern Ontario."

"In Sudbury, we just want to spread the same message that we are one and everybody has the right to practise their own religion but that doesn’t mean we can harm the other person," said Karan Badhesha, director of Canadian Khalsa Darbar.

"Everybody matters and we are one."

In Greater Sudbury, there is one Hindu temple and two Sikh Gurdwaras.

Officials said there are more than 300 Sikhs and more than 1,000 Hindus living in Sudbury. That figure doesn't include more than 2,000 international students from India who are studying here.

"I just want the community to be reassured in the neighbourhood where there are temples or Gurdwaras not to worry about anything," Koka said.

"We are all one together -- that’s why we got all the community leaders from both the groups to be here together."

Also at Friday's news conference, officials from the police and the city stressed that Sudbury is an inclusive community where violence will not be tolerated and where respect and diversity are valued.