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BAPS Hindu temple vandalized in Canada
Slurs threatening MP Arya, one of the few Hindu MPs, were seen on the vandalized temple.
The vandalized BAPS temple in Edmonton. / X@AryaCanada
A Swaminarayan Mandir temple, operated by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) in Edmonton, Canada, has been vandalized with anti-India graffiti amid increasing concerns about Hinduphobia in the country.
Sharing an image of the defaced temple, Chandra Arya, a member of Parliament from Nepean in the House of Commons said the same temple had been vandalized previously.
In a post on X, Arya 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.”
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
Slurs threatening MP Arya, who has been highlighting various instances of vandalizations against Hindu places of worship, were also seen on the vandalized temple.
In his post, Arya highlighted that Khalistani leader, 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,” he further wrote.
He called on the law enforcement authorities in the country to take action against Khalistani extremists, who he claimed always tend to get away with public display of hate and violence.
“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,” MP Arya said.
The Consulate General of India in Vancouver also condemned the vandalism saying in a post on X, “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.”
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
The Hindu American Foundation issued a strong statement regarding the incident and cited the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC), which confirmed that the BAPS temple in Edmonton was defaced with slurs threatening MP Arya.
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.
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) July 22, 2024
We are… pic.twitter.com/wH3zGWwbon
“We are outraged by this latest incident that mirrors several previous attacks—many blamed on pro-Khalistan activists. Canadian authorities @RCMPAlberta @csiscanada 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,” HAF said in a post on X.
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