‘Modi anti-Canada, Hindu terrorist’: Extremists deface BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, targetting of Hindu temples continue unabated

On Monday (22nd July, local time), extremists defaced the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton city in Alberta province of Canada.

The development was confirmed on social media by Canadian MP Chandra Arya. In visuals shared by him on X (formerly Twitter), it could be seen that the wall of the Hindu temple vandalised with Hinduphobic, anti-Modi graffiti.

‘PM Modi MP Arya Hindu terrorist are Anti Canada,’ read the graffiti. In a tweet, MP Chandra Arya pointed out, “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.”

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

“Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India. Khalistan supporters publicly celebrated in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and brandishing images of deadly weapons,” he emphasised.

The Canadian MP accused Khalistanis of orchestrating the attack on the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton. “As I have always been saying, Khalistani extremists seems to get away with ease with their public rhetoric of hate and violence…Hindu-Canadians are legitimately concerned,” he stated.

Chandra Arya reiterated, “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.”

Attacks on Hindu temples in Canada 

This is not the first time that a Hindu temple had come under attack in Canada.

1. In September 2023, the Shree Mata Bhameshwari Durga Devi Society in Surrey British Columbia was sprayed with ‘Punjab is not India’ grafitti
2. In February 2023, a Ram temple in Mississauga was defaced with anti-India graffiti by unknown miscreants.
3. In January 2023, the Gauri Shankar Mandir was desecrated by Khalistani extremists in Brampton City in Ontario province of Canada. The walls of the temple were defaced with anti-India graffiti by Khalistanis associated allegedly with the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). The vicious slogan of ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ was found spray-painted on the outer wall of Gauri Shankar Mandir.
4. In September 2022, some Khalistani terrorists defaced BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto with anti-India slogans. Several videos circulating on social media showed slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ painted on the walls of the temple.
5. In February 2022 alone, six Hindu temples were attacked in Toronto.