Edmonton/ Canada: The Hindu American Foundation in Canada claimed that a Hindu temple in Edmonton, the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta, was defaced with anti-India graffiti on Monday.
The graffiti on the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple also targeted Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya, NDTV reported.
The organisation shared a photo of the defacement in a post on X alongside stating: ‘The @chcconline is confirming that the @BAPS temple in Edmonton, Canada became the latest Hindu temple targeted for an attack early this morning. The temple was defaced with slurs threatening @AryaCanada, one of a few Hindu Members of the Canadian House of Commons. We are outraged by this latest incident that mirrors several previous attacks—many blamed on pro-Khalistan activists.’
Reacting to the incident, Indian origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya said that Hindu temples in Canada are increasingly being "vandalised".
Arya, who is a Liberal member of Parliament known for advocating multicultural issues, said on X: "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."
Pointing out the impunity enjoyed by "Khalistani extremists" in Canada, Arya said ‘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.’