Hindu Temple Vandalised, Defaced With Hateful Graffiti In Canada’s Edmonton, Religious Bodies 'Outraged'

A Hindu temple in Canada’s Edmonton was vandalised, with hateful graffiti painted on its walls. The temple was defaced with slurs threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya.

Arya took to the social media platform X to report the incident and wrote, “The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalized again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia and other places in Canada are being vandalized with hateful graffiti.”

He recalled incidents from the past involving Khalistani separatists and violence against Hindus and 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.”

The Hindu MP expressed concern about the rising incidents of Hinduphobic activites. “As I have always been saying, Khalistani extremists seems to get away with ease with their public rhetoric of hate and violence. Again, let me put on record. Hindu-Canadians are legitimately concerned,” he wrote.

Urging the authorities concerned to take strict action, he wrote, “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.

Global Hindu bodies “Outraged”

The incident has drawn condemnation from Hindu bodies in Canada and other foreign countries.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad-Canada denounced the incident and urged the government in Canada to take strict 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,” the Hindu body wrote on X.

The Hindu American Association also took to social media saying the organisation was “outraged” by the incident.

“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,” it wrote on X.