New Delhi, Apr 6 (Agency) India on Thursday condemned the defacement of a Hindu temple in Canada’s Ontario province with anti-India graffiti, by suspected pro-Khalistani elements, and said it has taken up the issue with the Canadian authorities. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in answer to a query on the issue, said: “This is a very unfortunate incident and we condemn it. This issue has been taken up with the Canadian authorities, with the same request that we’ve made on earlier occasions – please catch the perpetrators, please try to prevent and ensure that this does not happen again. “And I hope that Canadian authorities are able to take action on those lines. But certainly, let me reiterate, that we condemn it and it has been taken up with the Canadian authorities.” His response came after a BAPS Shri Swaminarayan temple at Windsor, in Ontario, Canada, was defaced with anti-India and anti-Modi graffiti, by suspected pro-Khalistani elements.
The local police said they are investigating the incident as a “hate-motivated incident”. The Windsor Police released CCTV footage showing two suspects attired in black spray painting on the wall of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan temple. This is the second such incident in Canada in four months. On March 26, India had summoned the High Commissioner of Canada to convey its strong protest regarding the actions of pro-Khalistani separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission and Consulates in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement had said that it sought an explanation from the Canadian High Commissioner on how the Khalistani elements were allowed to breach the security of the Indian diplomatic mission and consulates despite the presence of police.