Hindu temples are being targeted in Canada
“All this is being done in the name of freedom of speech and expression, I am again asking the Canadian authorities to come forward and take action,” he said. Stressing that Hindu temples have been the target of attacks over the years, Arya said, “Hindu temples have been attacked several times in the last few years. Hate crimes are being committed against Hindu-Canadians.” “Allowing these things to continue openly and publicly is not acceptable,” he said. In August this year, a Hindu temple with Khalistan referendum posters was vandalized by extremist elements in Canada.
A poster on the temple door featured a photo of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in June this year. This is not the first attack on a Hindu temple in Canada; Many such incidents have been carried out by Khalistani extremists, with several reported this year. In April this year, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Windsor, Ontario, Canada was vandalized with anti-India graffiti. Earlier in February, the Ram temple in Mississauga, Canada was vandalized with anti-India graffiti.
Tensions in India-Canada relations
The Consulate General of India in Toronto condemned the vandalism of the temple and urged the Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take immediate action against the culprits. In January, anti-India graffiti was daubed at a Hindu temple in Brampton, sparking outrage among the Indian community. The Consulate General of India in Toronto condemned the vandalism at the Gauri Shankar temple, saying the act has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada. Meanwhile, relations between India and Canada have soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made this claim during a debate in the Canadian Parliament.
Alleged Indian involvement in Hardeep Nijjar’s murder
He claimed that his country’s national security officials had reason to believe that “agents of the Government of India” had killed Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who also served as president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. However, India vehemently denied these claims as “absurd” and “motivated”. Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support its claim that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered.
Nijjar was shot on June 18 outside a gurudwara in a parking area in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Notably, amid a diplomatic standoff with Canada, India suspended its visa services in September until “further notice”. However, last month, India decided to resume visa services for four categories in Canada after reviewing the security situation, which “takes into account some recent steps taken by Canadians in this regard.” Entry visa, business visa, medical visa and conference visa are the four categories in which India has decided to resume visa services in Canada from October 26.
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