Edmonton, July 24:Ā A Swaminarayan Mandir managed by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) in the Canadian city of Edmonton has been vandalised with alleged hateful and anti-India graffiti. This incident, which occurred on the morning of July 22, comes amidst rising concerns over Hinduphobia in the country.
The Consulate General of India in Vancouver responded swiftly, condemning the defacement in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “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,” the post read.
Local authorities have yet to take official action against the vandalisation, and there has been no immediate response from the BAPS organization, which runs the temple. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from various community leaders and organizations.
Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, expressed his dismay on social media. “Earlier today, the Edmonton BAPS Mandir was vandalised 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,” he stated.
Terry Duguid, MP for Winnipeg South and Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also condemned the act. “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,” he posted on X. “My thoughts are with the community in Edmonton and indeed across Canada.”
The Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC), dedicated to promoting the interests of the Hindu business community in Canada, issued a strong 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,” the statement read. The CHCC urged the Canadian government and local authorities to take immediate and effective measures to combat Hinduphobia and protect religious institutions from such acts of violence and intolerance.
Chandra Arya, a member of Parliament from Nepean in the House of Commons, highlighted a troubling pattern of similar incidents across Canada. “During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada have been 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 called on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take the issue seriously to prevent further escalation.
The Hindu American Foundation also voiced its outrage, confirming that the temple was defaced with slurs threatening Arya, one of the few Hindu Members of the Canadian House of Commons. “We are outraged by this latest incident that mirrors several previous attacksāmany blamed on pro-Khalistan activists. Canadian authorities must immediately investigate this vandalism of another Hindu temple & implied threat to a sitting MP,” the Foundation stated.
This latest act of vandalism has drawn attention to the increasing incidents of Hinduphobia in Canada, with calls for a united effort to ensure the safety and security of all communities and their places of worship. As the investigation continues, the Hindu community and its allies remain vigilant, hoping for swift justice and stronger protective measures.