Washington DC: Toronto BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir has been defaced by “Khalistani extremists” with anti-India graffiti in an apparent hate crime, prompting the Indian mission in Canada to condemn the incident and urge authorities to take swift action against the perpetrators.
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa on Wednesday tweeted, “We strongly condemn defacing of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto with anti-India graffiti. Have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators.”
Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament, Canada tweeted, “Vandalism of Toronto BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir by Canadian Khalistani extremists should be condemned by all. This is not just an isolated event. Canadian Hindu temples have been targeted in the recent past by these kinds of hate crimes. Hindu Canadians are legitimately concerned.”
Condemnation of the vandalism poured in from all across particularly from the member of the Indian diaspora living in North America. “If one wants to subscribe to a disgraced ideology, fine. But why announce it with hate crimes like defacing a Hindu temple, destroying Gandhi statues, or threatening a Hindu man at a Taco Bell,” tweeted Hindu American Foundation (HAF).
In India, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday expressed disappointment and condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Canada’s Toronto. Stating that the purpose of the action was to ‘spread hatred’, Sirsa appealed to the Canadian government to take action.
