Hindu Temple Vandalised [Edmonton, Canada]

(Reported as seen)

A Hindu temple in Edmonton, Alberta, has been vandalised with hateful graffiti, marking the latest in a series of attacks on Hindu establishments across Canada. The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was defaced on Tuesday, sparking outrage and concern among the Hindu community.

Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya expressed his distress over the incident on X, emphasizing the growing trend of such attacks. He noted that Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other regions have also been targets of similar vandalism in recent years.

Highlighting the role of extremist elements in these incidents, Arya pointed to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice, who publicly called for Hindus to return to India. Arya mentioned that Khalistan supporters have celebrated the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in public rallies, displaying images of deadly weapons.

Arya’s post included a picture of the defaced temple wall, which was marked with the message: “PM Modi MP Arya Hindu Terrorists are Anti-Canada.” He urged Canadian law enforcement agencies to take these issues seriously, warning that the rhetoric of hate and violence could escalate into physical attacks against Hindu-Canadians.

In a statement last year, the Canada-India Foundation, an advocacy body, had urged Canadian politicians to address the threat posed by radical elements. They expressed disappointment over the lack of response from political leaders and media, warning that ignoring such threats could endanger public safety.

Several Hindu temples have been vandalised recently, including the Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill, BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto, and Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey. These incidents are viewed as attacks on religious freedom and a dangerous trend targeting the Hindu community in Canada.

The advocacy body noted that extremists have begun targeting ordinary Hindus, telling them to leave Canada. MP Arya reiterated the legitimate concerns of Hindu-Canadians and called for stronger action against those promoting hate and violence.