India Condemns Vandalism of Edmonton Temple, Calls for Swift Action
New Delhi, July 25: India has strongly condemned the vandalization of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that India has taken up the matter with Canadian authorities in both Delhi and Ottawa, urging swift action against the perpetrators.
India’s Response
Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the need for strong action against those responsible for the vandalism. He noted that such attacks on temples have become frequent and are carried out with a clear purpose. Jaiswal highlighted the lack of action against the perpetrators, which has emboldened criminal elements.
Canadian Authorities’ Reaction
Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean, expressed deep concern over the increasing incidents of hate-fueled violence against Hindu-Canadian communities. Arya pointed out that Hindu temples in various parts of Canada, including the Greater Toronto Area and British Columbia, have been targeted with hateful graffiti.
Arya also criticized the impunity enjoyed by Khalistani extremists in Canada, who have openly incited hatred and violence. He called on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take the issue seriously to prevent further attacks on Hindu Canadians.
Calls for Action
Randy Boissonnault, Member of the House of Commons of Canada, condemned the vandalism, stating that hate has no place in Canada, especially in places of worship. He urged Canadian law enforcement to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all religious communities.
The incidents have sparked discussions on enhancing security measures around Hindu temples and combating extremist propaganda.
Doubts Revealed
vandalism -: Vandalism means damaging or destroying property on purpose. In this case, it refers to someone damaging the temple.
Edmonton -: Edmonton is a city in Canada. It is the capital of the province of Alberta.
BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir -: BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple. ‘Mandir’ means temple, and BAPS is a religious organization.
MEA -: MEA stands for Ministry of External Affairs. It is a part of the Indian government that deals with foreign countries.
Randhir Jaiswal -: Randhir Jaiswal is a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in India. A spokesperson talks to the public and media on behalf of an organization.
Canadian MPs -: MPs are Members of Parliament. They are elected officials who make laws and decisions for the country.
Chandra Arya -: Chandra Arya is a Member of Parliament in Canada. He represents the people in his area and works on their behalf.
Randy Boissonnault -: Randy Boissonnault is also a Member of Parliament in Canada. He works with other MPs to make laws and decisions.
Hindu-Canadian communities -: Hindu-Canadian communities are groups of people in Canada who follow the Hindu religion. They have cultural and religious practices that are important to them.
hate-fueled violence -: Hate-fueled violence means hurting people or damaging things because of hate or prejudice against a group. It is often based on religion, race, or other differences.