This is not the first time that the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton has fallen victim to an attack on Hindu places of worship across Canada.
A Hindu temple was vandalised in Canada’s Edmonton, with graffiti painted on the walls. Following the incident, the Vishva Hindu Parishad in Canada condemned it and called on the government of Canada to act against the growing extremist ideology. “VHP Canada strongly denounces Hinduphobic graffiti & vandalism at BAPS Mandir in Edmonton,” the organisation wrote in an X post. “We urge all levels of Government in Canada to act decisively against the growing extremist ideology propelling hate against peace loving Hindu community in our country,” it added.
This is not the first time that the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton has fallen victim to an attack on Hindu places of worship across Canada. Chandra Arya, member of parliament for Nepean, expressed concern over the rising incidents of hate-fueled violence aimed at Hindu-Canadian communities. He said that Hindu temples in Canada have increasingly being “vandalised”. “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,” Arya said in a post 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.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last… pic.twitter.com/G0a8ozrrHX— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) July 23, 2024
Arya, a Liberal member of Parliament known for his advocacy on multicultural issues, pointed to the impunity enjoyed by “Khalistani extremists” in Canada. “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.
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,” Arya said in a post on X on Tuesday.