Swaminarayan Mandir vandalised: Graffiti containing anti-Indian sentiments has been daubed on the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada. Slurs threatening Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian MP Chandra Arya, who is of Indian descent, were written on the Hindu temple.
Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Canadian MP Chandra Arya posted, “The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalized again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada are being vandalized with hateful graffiti.”
Mentioning the role of Khalistani elements in attacking Hindu temples in Canada, Arya said, “Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India. Khalistan supporters publicly celebrated in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and brandishing images of deadly weapons.”
Expressing his concern about the rising incidents of Hinduphobic activities, the Hindu MP said “As I have always been saying, Khalistani extremists seem to get away with ease with their public rhetoric of hate and violence. Again, let me put it on record. Hindu-Canadians are legitimately concerned.”
Demanding strict action against the extremists, Arya said, “Like a broken record, I again call on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take this issue seriously before these rhetorics get translated into physical action against Hindu Canadians.”
Criticisms
The Indian Consulate in Vancouver strongly denounced the incident and asked that the Canadian authorities look into it and move quickly to apprehend those responsible.
The Canadian branch of the Vishva Hindu Parishad also vehemently condemned the incident and called on the Justin Trudeau government to take decisive action.
VHP Canada strongly denounces Hinduphobic graffiti & vandalism at BAPS Mandir in Edmonton. We urge all levels of Government in Canada to act decisively against the growing extremist ideology propelling hate against peace loving Hindu community in our country. @JustinTrudeau… pic.twitter.com/N1zGpzGULM
— VHP Canada (@vhpcanada) July 22, 2024
“We urge all levels of Government in Canada to act decisively against the growing extremist ideology propelling hate against the peace-loving Hindu community in our country,” the Hindu organisation posted on X.
The Hindu American Association denounced the incident as well, stating that it “outraged” them and that it mirrored several other attacks, many of which were attributed to pro-Khalistan extremists.
The @chcconline is confirming that the @BAPS temple in Edmonton, Canada became the latest Hindu temple targeted for an attack early this morning. The temple was defaced with slurs threatening @AryaCanada, one of a few Hindu Members of the Canadian House of Commons.
We are… pic.twitter.com/wH3zGWwbon
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) July 22, 2024
“We are outraged by this latest incident that mirrors several previous attacks—many blamed on pro-Khalistan activists. Canadian authorities must immediately investigate this vandalism of another Hindu temple & implied threat to a sitting M.P., and remain vigilant as the upcoming “Khalistan referendum” in Calgary sponsored by Sikhs for Justice carries the potential of more strife in the region,” the Hindu American Association said.