Another Hindu temple vandalised in Canada by Khalistan supporters

TORONTO, Aug 14 (PTI): A prominent temple in Canada’s British Columbia province has been
vandalised by two Khalistan supporters with “anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti”, the latest such
incident targeting Hindu places of worship in the country.
The incident took place on Saturday at 12.29 am at the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.
According to the Facebook page of the temple, one male and one female jumped over the outside
boundary and purposely pasted Khalistan referendum posters on the main entry gate and the
entrance of the Surrey Mandir.
“It was really very sad what happened inside the Temple on August 12, 2023, late at night at 12.29
AM, when one male and one female person jumped over the outside boundary and purposely
pasted #Khalistanreferendum Posters on the Main Entry Gate and Main Entrance of the Surrey
Mandir,” the post read.
India has previously condemned the attacks on Hindu temples by Khalistan supporters in Canada and
sought action against the perpetrators.
This act was done to create an atmosphere of fear among Hindus, it said.
“These hate mongers and attention seekers have not even left the Hindu Temple and disgraced Shri
Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Surrey by putting these posters on the mandir’s main door that too by
trespassing the mandir’s property,” the website of the temple said.
“If they are seeking justice, they should find legal means to get it and NOT by disgracing sacred
places. We worship here and we need to maintain decorum here. Lord, please give them some
wisdom!!! We strongly condemn such incidents at any place of worship,” it said.
This is not the first incident where Hindu temples have been vandalised in Canada.
In April, BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Canada’s Ontario province was vandalised by unknown
people with “anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti”, in what is described by police as a “hate-motivated
incident.”
In January, the Gauri Shankar temple in Brampton was targeted with anti-India graffiti, causing
outrage among the Indian community.
The Indian Consulate General in Toronto had said the defacing of the temple had deeply hurt the
sentiments of the Indian community in Canada.
At least three similar acts of vandalism have been recorded in Canada last year.
The Ministry of External Affairs has previously condemned the rise of hate crimes against Indians
and anti-India activities by Khalistan supporters in Canada and sought action against the
perpetrators.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada,
the UK and the US not to give space to “extremist Khalistani ideology” as it is “not good” for
relations.