The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, has been vandalised with BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, sparking outrage amid growing concerns about Hinduphobia in the country.
The incident occurred on Monday morning, with the walls of the temple defaced with hateful messages, prompting swift condemnation from various quarters.
Consulate General of India responds
The Consulate General of India in Vancouver condemned the act on X, stating, "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."
Local and community reactions
Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, expressed his dismay on X: "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."
The Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) also issued a statement condemning the vandalism. "The act of vandalism is not only an attack on a physical structure but also an affront to the sentiments of the Hindu community and the principles of respect and tolerance that our society holds dear. These incidents are deeply troubling and have no place in our multicultural and inclusive society," the CHCC said.
Calls for action
The CHCC urged the Canadian government and local authorities to take immediate and effective measures to combat Hinduphobia and protect religious institutions and communities from such acts of violence and intolerance. The organization called for united efforts to address the rising tide of hate crimes against the Hindu community.
Attacks in the past
This incident is not isolated. Last year, there were at least three attacks on Hindu temples in Mississauga, Brampton, and Windsor, which included Khalistani referendum posters with veiled threats to Hindus. The latest vandalism in Edmonton has invoked strong reactions from elected public representatives.
Chandra Arya, a Member of Parliament from Nepean in the House of Commons, highlighted the ongoing issue of vandalism against Hindu temples in Canada.
"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. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India," Arya said in a post on X.
He added, "Khalistan supporters publicly celebrated in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and brandished images of deadly weapons. As I have always been saying, Khalistani extremists seem to get away with ease with their public rhetoric of hate and violence. 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."
Terry Duguid, MP for Winnipeg South and Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also condemned the incident. "I am deeply saddened to learn that the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton was vandalised today. Defacing a place of worship is a repulsive act that goes against Canadian values of tolerance and respect. This act of hate is completely unacceptable," Duguid said on X.
International reactions
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) issued a strong statement echoing the sentiments of the CHCC. The HAF noted that the BAPS temple in Edmonton was defaced with slurs threatening Chandra Arya, one of the 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. Canadian authorities must immediately investigate this vandalism of another Hindu temple and implied threat to a sitting MP, and remain vigilant as the upcoming ‘Khalistan referendum’ in Calgary sponsored by Sikhs for Justice carries the potential of more strife in the region," the HAF stated on X.
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