ADVERTISEMENTs
India foreign minister says vandalism of Hindu temples deeply concerning
India foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Nov. 5 the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada on Nov. 3 was deeply concerning.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar arrives at BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo / Reuters
India foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Nov. 5 that the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada on Nov. 3 was deeply concerning.
"What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning," he told reporters in the Australian capital Canberra while on an official visit.
The incident happened weeks after Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats, linking them to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in 2023 in Canada. Canada has accused the Indian government of conducting a broad campaign against South Asian dissidents in Canada, which New Delhi denies.
The incident has increased tensions between Canada and India and between Sikh separatists and Indian diplomats.
Two Hindu temples were also vandalized in Canberra last month, which Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said was upsetting for members of the Indian community.
"People across Australia have a right to be safe and respected, people also have a right to peaceful protest, people have a right to express their views peacefully," she told reporters.
"We draw a line between that and violence, incitement of hatred or vandalism," she added.
Wong said Australia had expressed its views to India about Canada's allegations over the targeting of Sikh separatists, and Canberra respected Canada's judicial process.
Jaishankar said it was unacceptable that Indian diplomats had been placed under surveillance by Canada.
"Canada has developed a pattern of making allegations without providing specifics," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
.jpg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login