Canada: Hindu temple defaced with comments against PM Modi
What's the story
A Hindu temple in Canada was vandalized with anti-India graffiti, marking the latest attack on Hindu places of worship in the country. The defacement targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canada MP Chandra Arya, known for his stance against Khalistan supporters. In a post on X, the Consulate General of India, Toronto reported the incident at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, stating, "We have requested the Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators."
Arya's statement
MP Chandra Arya reacts to incident
Separately, Arya in an X post urged Canadian law enforcement agencies to take this issue seriously before "these rhetorics get translated into physical action against Hindu-Canadian." He added, "The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalised again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada are being vandalised with hateful graffiti."
Twitter Post
Read the Consulate General's statement here
We condemn the defacing of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in #Edmonton with anti-India graffiti. We have requested the Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators.@HCI_Ottawa @GAC_Corporate @BAPS @MEAIndia @IndiainToronto
— India in Vancouver (@cgivancouver) July 22, 2024
Twitter Post
Here's what Arya posted on X
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.
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) July 23, 2024
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last… pic.twitter.com/G0a8ozrrHX
Diplomatic relations
India and Canada's strained relations
Diplomatic relations between India and Canada have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed the accusations as "absurd and motivated." The Ministry of External Affairs had said, "such unsubstantiated" allegations aim to divert attention from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been given "shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity."