Maninder Singh Gill, a prominent figure associated with the Friends of Canada & India Foundation in Surrey, Canada, expressed strong condemnation, characterizing the vandalism as an act of sheer cowardice. Gill passionately urged the community to uphold peace and harmony in the Canadian society
In a disturbing incident that unfolded on the night of September 7th, the Shree Mata Bhameshwari Durga Society Mandir, situated at 7984 123 Street Surrey, became the latest victim of senseless vandalism. The temple walls were defaced with derogatory slogans, including offensive statements, reported indianexpress.com.
This shocking act of vandalism has sent shockwaves through the Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities in Canada, which have historically coexisted peacefully. The incident has garnered attention, particularly in light of the upcoming so-called “Khalistan Referendum” scheduled for September 10. Recently, the original venue for this controversial event was abruptly canceled by the Surrey school district, leading organizers to hastily choose an alternative location.
The response to this act of vandalism has been swift and resounding, with condemnation coming from every corner of the community. A temple management member emphasized the unity among the Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities, all vehemently rejecting such irrational acts of violence.
Maninder Singh Gill, a prominent figure associated with the Friends of Canada & India Foundation in Surrey, Canada, expressed strong condemnation, characterizing the vandalism as an act of sheer cowardice. Gill passionately urged the community to uphold peace and harmony in the Canadian society.
Despite repeated attempts to address the issue, the event organizers failed to remove these concerning images, which continued to circulate in Surrey and on social media
Sameer Kaushal, the News Director at Radio AM600 in Richmond, BC, took to social media to voice his outrage against the vandalism. He pointed out the disturbing trend of cowardly attacks aimed at instilling fear within the community.
This recent incident joins a disconcerting list of previous acts of vandalism targeting Hindu temples in Canada. Notably, the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Ontario faced a similar attack in April, as did the Gauri Shankar temple in Brampton in January. Both incidents involved anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti, and authorities are investigating them as “hate-motivated incidents.”
Ritinder Matthew, the Associate Director of Communication at the Surrey school board, explained the cancellation of the earlier venue for the “Khalistan Referendum.” According to Matthew, the decision was prompted by a violation of the rental agreement, as promotional materials for the event featured images of the school alongside images of a weapon.
Despite repeated attempts to address the issue, the event organizers failed to remove these concerning images, which continued to circulate in Surrey and on social media.
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