The Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple in Canada’s Surrey was vandalized by two masked men who put up “pro-Khalistan” posters. The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday, August 12. The temple, located in British Columbia, was defaced with pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans. The posters demanded an investigation into the death of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
This incident marks the fourth instance of temple vandalization in Canada in 2023. The Indian government has expressed concerns to Canada regarding Sikh extremists and “pro-Khalistan” sentiments. The desecration of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir was captured on CCTV.
There have been multiple incidents of Hindu temples being vandalized by Khalistani extremists in Canada. Some of the incidents include the defacing of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Ontario, the Ram Mandir in Mississauga, and a Hindu temple in Brampton. These incidents have triggered outrage among the Indian community in Canada, and they have called for prompt action against the perpetrators.
Khalistan supporters are reportedly targeting temples in Canada as part of their campaign to promote the idea of an independent Sikh homeland called Khalistan. These incidents of vandalism are believed to be carried out by pro-Khalistani groups who are organizing a referendum in Toronto in support of Khalistan. The defacement of Hindu temples is seen as a means to draw attention to their cause and express anti-India sentiments.
The Indian mission in Canada and Indian-origin lawmakers have condemned these acts of vandalism and called for an inquiry. However, there are concerns that the Canadian government is not taking sufficient action against pro-Khalistani elements and that they may be passively supporting them.
