Category: Canada

With another Hindu temple in Alberta’s capital Edmonton vandalised with hateful graffiti on Tuesday, New Delhi has slammed Ottawa for its inability to rein in the extremists…reports Asian Lite News

India on Thursday reiterated that it expects Canada to take action against anti-India elements otherwise “the rule of law and respect for pluralism” in the country will continue to be “severely undermined”.

“When a democracy adopts different yardsticks to measure or implement the rule of law and freedom of expression, it only exposes its double standards. We expect Canada to take action against anti-India elements who have repeatedly threatened Indian leaders, institutions, airlines, and diplomats with violence,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly media briefing on Thursday.

“We would like to see stronger action at the same level of seriousness on the threats posed to us as well,” he added.

With another Hindu temple in Alberta’s capital Edmonton vandalised with hateful graffiti on Tuesday, New Delhi has slammed Ottawa for its inability to rein in the extremists.

The MEA stated that it has “strongly” taken up the matter with the Canadian authorities, both in New Delhi and in the Canadian capital.

“We condemn the vandalisation. We expect the local authorities to take swift and strong action against those responsible. These attacks against temples have become a recurring occurrence and are done with a purpose, which is not very difficult to fathom,” said Jaiswal.

“We have seen a number of such incidents in recent times in Canada. Lack of action against the perpetrators has further emboldened such criminal elements. Those advocating and responsible for extremism and violence need to be brought to justice, or else the rule of law and respect for pluralism in Canada will continue to be severely undermined,” he added.

Tuesday’s incident added to the series of attacks targeting Hindu establishments in Canada.

“During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada have been vandalised with hateful graffiti. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of ‘Sikhs for Justice’ last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India,” Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya wrote on X on July 23.

“Khalistan supporters publicly celebrated in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and brandished images of deadly weapons. As I have always been saying, Khalistani extremists seem to get away with ease with their public rhetoric of hate and violence.

“Again, let me put 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,” Arya detailed.

The Indian government has repeatedly expressed its deep concern and strong protest at the disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked in Canada, saying it illustrates the political space that has been given in the country to separatism, extremism, and violence.

In May, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar targeted the Justin Trudeau government for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements, asserting that further deterioration in bilateral ties would eventually result in a big loss for Canada.

“Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country. It cannot be… A group of Khalistanis have been misusing Canada’s freedom laws for years.

“But when the Canadian government has any political compulsions, they accommodate these people who are also their vote bank,” Jaishankar said while speaking at the ‘Vishwabandhu Bharat’ interaction in Nashik.

ALSO READ: Another Hindu Temple Vandalised in Canada

Arya further noted that Hindu-Canadians, with their long history of Hindu culture and heritage, have enriched the multicultural fabric of Canada….reports Asian Lite News

In a staunch response to separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s video demanding him and his Hindu-Canadian friends return to India, Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya said that Canada is their land and that they have enriched the multicultural fabric of the country.

He emphasised that Hindus have come to Canada from all parts of the world and have significantly contributed to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Sharing a post on X, the Canadian MP wrote, “In response to my condemnation of the vandalism of the Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton and other acts of hate and violence by Khalistan supporters in Canada, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice has released a video demanding me and my Hindu-Canadian friends to go back to India.”

Arya further noted that Hindu-Canadians, with their long history of Hindu culture and heritage, have enriched the multicultural fabric of Canada.

He did not shy away from holding the Khalistani extremists accountable for “polluting” Canada.

In response to my condemnation of the vandalism of the Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton and other acts of hate and violence by Khalistan supporters in Canada, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice has released a video demanding me and my Hindu-Canadian… pic.twitter.com/vMhnN45rc1

— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) July 24, 2024

“We Hindus have come to our wonderful country, Canada, from all parts of the world. From every country in South Asia, many countries in Africa and Caribbean, and many other parts of the world, we have come here and Canada, is our land,” the Canadian MP wrote.

“We have made and continue to make an immense positive and productive contribution to the socio-economic development of Canada. With our long history of Hindu culture and heritage, we have enriched the multicultural fabric of Canada. Our land is being polluted by Khalistani extremists abusing our freedoms guaranteed by our Canadian Charter of Rights,” he further added.

In a troubling recurrence of targeted attacks on Hindu places of worship, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton fell victim to vandalism again this week.

Member of Parliament for Nepean, Chandra Arya, voiced deep concern over the escalating incidents of hate-fueled violence directed at Hindu-Canadian communities.

“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,” Arya said in a post on X on Tuesday, sharing the picture.

The recent attack adds to a string of similar incidents documented in recent years, underscoring a distressing trend of religious intolerance. Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor suffered defacement with anti-India graffiti, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for action from both Canadian and Indian officials.

Earlier incidents in Mississauga and Brampton saw temples similarly targeted, drawing strong reactions from the Indian community in Canada.

Arya, a Liberal member of Parliament known for his advocacy on multicultural issues, pointed to the impunity enjoyed by Khalistani extremists in Canada, citing instances where their rhetoric has openly incited hatred and violence.

Canadian law enforcement agencies have been urged to take proactive measures to address these threats and ensure the safety and security of all religious communities in Canada.

The incidents have prompted renewed discussions on bolstering security measures around Hindu temples and enhancing efforts to combat extremist propaganda. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Another Hindu Temple Vandalised in Canada

The Indian High Commission in Canada stressed that India stands at the forefront of countering terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat…reports Asian Lite News

On the 39th anniversary of the Air India flight ‘Kanishka’ bombing, Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, paid homage to the victims of the tragedy in Ottawa.

Despite the rains, the Indian High Commission in Canada led the memorial service for the victims at the Air India Flight 182 Monument at Commissioner’s Park, Dow’s Lake, Ottawa.

While addressing the gathering, Sanjay Kumar Verma stated that no government in the world should overlook the threat of terrorism emanating from its territories for political gains and called human lives much more important than transitory political interests. He asserted that all terrorist activities should be met with exemplary legal action.

Taking to X, the Indian High Commission in Canada stated, “High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma paid homage to the victims of Air India flight 182 Kanishka in Ottawa today on the 39th anniversary of the cowardly terrorist bombing in which 329 innocent victims including 86 children, lost their lives.”

In his address, Verma said, “No government in the world should overlook the threat of terrorism emanating from its territories for political gains. Human lives are much more important than the transitory political interests. All terrorist activities should be met with exemplary legal and social actions, before they start harming the larger humanity. Governments, security agencies, and international organizations must work in concert to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their financing, and counter their twisted ideologies.”

The Indian High Commission in Canada stressed that India stands at the forefront of countering terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat.

In a post on X, the Indian High Commission in Canada stated, “Family members and friends of the victims, officials of Government of Canada including the Asstt RCMP Commissioner, Amb of Ireland and more than 150 members of the Indo- Canadian community attended the solemn occasion. India shares the sorrow and pain of the victims’ near & dear ones. India stands at the forefront of countering the menace of terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat.”

The Consul General of India in Toronto, Siddhartha Nath, attended the memorial service at Queen’s Park Toronto for Air India 182 flight bombing victims and met with the bereaved families. He laid a wreath at the Air India 182 memorial, Humber Park, Etobicoke in solemn remembrance of the 329 victims of the terrorist bombing of Air India flight.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto said, “Consul General @S_Nath_S laid a wreath at the Air India 182 memorial, Humber Park, Etobicoke in solemn remembrance of the 329 victims of the terrorist bombing of AI 182 on this day, 39 years ago.”

In another post on X, the Consulate General of India in Toronto wrote,”CG attended the memorial service at Queen’s Park Toronto for AI 182 flight bombing victims and met with the bereaved families. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of unified global efforts to combat terrorism and standing firm against its glorification.”

Notably, a bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 “Kanishka” from Canada off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, killing 329 passengers and crew.

On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the Air India flight bombing one of the worst acts of terrorism in history. He said that the anniversary of the tragedy is a reminder of why terrorism should never be tolerated.

“Today marks the 39th anniversary of one of the worst acts of terrorism in history. Pay my homage to the memory of the 329 victims of AI 182 ‘Kanishka’ who were killed this day in 1985. My thoughts are with their families. The anniversary is a reminder why terrorism should never be tolerated,” Jaishankar posted on X.  (ANI)

ALSO READ: India lodges protest with Canada over extremists holding court