NEW DELHI: A Gurdwara in Canada's Vancouver was vandalised with pro-Khalistan graffiti, the Khalsa Diwan Society informed, as it blamed the incident on a "small group of Sikh separatists". It said that the walls of the Ross Street Gurudwara was defaced slogans like "Khalistan Zindabad".
Images of the vandalism, which quickly went viral on social media, showed the phrase “Khalistan Zindabad” spray-painted multiple times on the wall surrounding the Gurdwara’s parking lot. Additional graffiti included pro-Khalistan slogans and death threats directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Steve Addison said that the authorities were investigating graffiti containing the word 'murdabad' that was spray-painted on the Gurdwara on Saturday.
"On Saturday, April 19th, 2025, we were shocked to witness an act of vandalism at our beloved Ross Street Gurdwara. A small group of Sikh separatists, advocating for Khalistan, defaced our sacred walls with divisive slogans like 'Khalistan. Zindabad'," Khalsa Diwan Society said in a press statement.
"This act is part of an ongoing campaign by extremist forces that seek to instill fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community," it added.
The organisation further called upon the Canadians to "stand together in the face of this extremism".
"We call on all Canadians, Sikhs, and people of goodwill to stand together in the face of this extremism. 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. Let us unite against division and extremism, for the future we all share," it said.
The nation has witnessed a rise in vandalisms, especially on religious structures including Hindu temples.
Earlier this year, miscreants vandalised Sri Krishna Brundavana Temple in the Greater Toronto Area.
Last year, PM Modi had condemned the attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, calling it "deliberate". "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," he had said.
Images of the vandalism, which quickly went viral on social media, showed the phrase “Khalistan Zindabad” spray-painted multiple times on the wall surrounding the Gurdwara’s parking lot. Additional graffiti included pro-Khalistan slogans and death threats directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Steve Addison said that the authorities were investigating graffiti containing the word 'murdabad' that was spray-painted on the Gurdwara on Saturday.
"On Saturday, April 19th, 2025, we were shocked to witness an act of vandalism at our beloved Ross Street Gurdwara. A small group of Sikh separatists, advocating for Khalistan, defaced our sacred walls with divisive slogans like 'Khalistan. Zindabad'," Khalsa Diwan Society said in a press statement.
"This act is part of an ongoing campaign by extremist forces that seek to instill fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community," it added.
The organisation further called upon the Canadians to "stand together in the face of this extremism".
"We call on all Canadians, Sikhs, and people of goodwill to stand together in the face of this extremism. 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. Let us unite against division and extremism, for the future we all share," it said.
The nation has witnessed a rise in vandalisms, especially on religious structures including Hindu temples.
Earlier this year, miscreants vandalised Sri Krishna Brundavana Temple in the Greater Toronto Area.
Last year, PM Modi had condemned the attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, calling it "deliberate". "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," he had said.
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