Khalistani slogans written on Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
On the night of April 19, pro -Khalistan slogans have been written on the walls of the prestigious Lakshmi Narayan temple located in Surrey city of Canada. The incident took place at a time when the annual city kirtan was to be organized in Surrey on 20 April, in which millions of Sikh devotees arrived. Lake
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On the outer walls of the temple, “Khalistan Zindabad”, “Free Punjab”, other inflammatory slogans, were found written with spray paint. Soon after the incident, the temple administration informed the police and an FIR was lodged. The police department has started investigation, considering the incident as a possible hatred crime. Officials say it may be a planned act that aims to destabilize the atmosphere before the religious event.
Slogans written on the walls of Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
Grafts on gurudwara in Vancouver
Apart from the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, a similar pro -Khalistan Grefity has been found on the wall of Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver. However, the Gurudwara administration has given a restrained response to this and has said to cooperate in the investigation. It is not clear whether the two incidents are associated with each other, but the police is also investigating these aspects in view of time and style similarity.
Joint appeal of communities
Leaders of Hindu and Sikh communities have condemned these incidents and emphasized the need for honor of religious places. The organizers have reiterated the matter of organizing the city kirtan peacefully and demanded the administration to increase security. At the same time, there have also been questions on the continuing of Khalistan supporters in Nagar Kirtan.
Around 5 lakh Sikh devotees arrived
Surrey’s 2025 Vaisakhi parade became a symbol of religious reverence and cultural festival. In this parade, led by Gurudwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, a glimpse of traditional Punjabi folk culture, service and Sikh tradition was seen at every step. Dressed floats, colorful presentations of children and youth, and anchor services organized at different places make the event a symbol of unity and service spirit of the Sikh community.
Sikh devotees present in Nagar Kirtan went with Khalistani flags.
Khalistani’s appearance raised questions
Pro -Khalistan flags, anti -India slogans and separatist tableaux were displayed at many places in the parade. Some of these floats were openly demonstrated by controversial faces and slogans associated with Sikh separatism. Such scenes also show a possibility of disorientation from the original religious spirit of the event and can cause unnecessary tension in Canada and India’s relations.
This situation is becoming a subject of serious deliberations for the governments and migrant communities of both countries, where it is becoming challenging to balance religious freedom and political abolition in public places.
Stage set up by supporters of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and supporters of Khalistani supporters, who were killed two years ago.
Hindu temples have become targets earlier also
This is not the first incident when a Hindu temple in Canada is targeted. Many such incidents have happened in the last two years:
- September 2023: “Khalistan Referendum 2020” was written on the wall of a temple in Brampton.
- January 2024: Khalistani posters were pasted in another temple in the mission city.
- June 2024: A temple in Vancouver was reported to be vandalized and inflammatory graffiti.
In most of these cases, the accused have not been identified in most cases, which has increased the spirit of insecurity within the Hindu community.