Soon after the desecration of a Gurdwara in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey was defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti, marking another alarming incident targeting religious institutions in Canada.
Images shared online showed the temple walls sprayed with pro-Khalistan slogans, drawing widespread condemnation from community leaders and elected officials. Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya strongly condemned the act, calling it “yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism.”
“The attacks on Hindu temples that began several years ago continue unabated today, this latest graffiti on the Hindu temple is yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism,” Arya posted on social media platform X. “Well-organized, well-funded, and backed by significant political clout, Khalistani elements are brazenly asserting their dominance and successfully silencing Hindu voices across Canada.”
The incident in Surrey followed the vandalism of the Ross Street Gurdwara, operated by the Khalsa Diwan Society in Vancouver, where walls were defaced with slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” and graffiti containing the word “murdabad.” The slogans reportedly included threats aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vancouver Police Department confirmed an investigation is underway.
“This Khalistani extremists have targeted Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver with pro-Khalistan graffiti and intimidation tactics,” Arya added. “In a statement issued after the desecration, KDS said that a small group of Sikh separatists, advocating for Khalistan, defaced our sacred walls with divisive slogans like ‘Khalistan Zindabad’.”
The Khalsa Diwan Society condemned the act, calling it part of “an ongoing campaign by extremist forces that seek to instill fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community.”
“We call on all Canadians, Sikhs, and people of goodwill to stand together in the face of this extremism,” the Society said. “We must denounce these acts and reaffirm our shared commitment to the values of peace, unity, and respect. This attack is an attack on all of us — on the very unity that makes Canada strong.”
Calling for unity, Arya urged Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada to “rise with urgency and demand immediate, decisive action from authorities at all levels of government.”
“Silence is no longer an option,” he said.
Canada has seen a rise in religious vandalism in recent years. Earlier this year, the Sri Krishna Brundavana Temple in the Greater Toronto Area was targeted. In 2023, PM Modi had condemned the defacement of a temple in Brampton, saying, “I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.”
