Hindu temple in Canada vandalized, defaced with anti-India graffiti

Amidst rising Hinduphobia in Canada, a BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in the city of Edmonton was vandalized with hateful anti-India comments in the country.

The Hindu American Foundation said the slurs in the graffiti also attacked Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya while sharing a picture of the defacement.

"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 outraged by this latest incident that mirrors several previous attacks—many blamed on pro-Khalistan activists," the post read

MP Chandra Arya said that Hindu temples in Canada have increasingly been "vandalized".

The Consulate General of India condemned the defacing of the temple. "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," it said in a post on X.

The Bochasanwasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) that runs the temple has not taken any official action against the vandalization that took place on July 22.

"Earlier today, the Edmonton BAPS Mandir was vandalized with paint, displaying hateful rhetoric on the walls of what should be a place of refuge. Hate has no part in Canada - much less in places of worship & prayer. This incident is wrong & goes against the values of our city," said Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament /Depute Edmonton Centre.

"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 vandalised with hateful graffiti," Indian-origin MP Arya said in a post on X.

The MP, a Liberal member of Parliament, further noted that "Khalistani extremists" in Canada enjoy the privilege of not facing the music.

"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. 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," he said.

Canadian law enforcement agencies have been directed to take necessary measures to address such threats and ensure the safety and security of all religious communities in the country that boast of tolerance and acceptance.