Indian demands prompt action against vandalization of temple in Toronto

Last Updated Sep - 15 - 2022, 01:30 AM | Source : FELA News

The High Commission of India has urged Canadian authorities to investigate and take prompt action on the vandalization of Toronto’s largest temple which was spr

Toronto: The government of India has firmly condemned the vandalization of Toronto’s largest temple on Tuesday night after it was spraypainted with pro-Khalistan graffiti. The High Commission of India has urged Canadian authorities to investigate and take prompt action.

“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," it said.

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Indian-origin Canada MP Chandra Arya alleged that Canadian Khalistani extremists were responsible for the defacement, adding that this was not a one-off incident. “Vandalism of Toronto BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir by Canadian Khalistani extremists should be condemned by all," he said in a tweet.

“This is not just an isolated event. Canadian Hindu temples have been targeted in the recent past by these kinds of hate crime. Hindu Canadians are legitimately concerned," Arya tweeted.

The incident occurred in the late hours between Tuesday and Wednesday and the defacement was discovered in the morning by workers and volunteers at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto.

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A senior Indian official told the Hindustan Times that a formal protest note over the vandalisation has been conveyed to Global Affairs Canada, the country’s foreign ministry, by India’s High Commission in Ottawa. The mission has sought an expeditious investigation into the episode and described it as a “hate crime”.

Members of the temple management did not want to comment on the incident. However, they confirmed the front gate of the temple was defaced and spraypainted with the slogan, Khalistan Zindabad. The back entrance was also vandalized. They also said law enforcement was informed after its discovery on Wednesday morning and officers of Toronto Police visited the temple and were looking into it.

The Swaminarayan mandir in the Etobicoke area of Toronto is a landmark in the city. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had visited it to mark its 10th anniversary celebrations in July 2017. At that time, addressing a gathering there, he pointed out that as travellers arrive at Canada’s largest airport, Toronto’s Pearson International, among the first landmarks they see is this place of worship.

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