India worries over Canada’s temple vandalism amid New Zealand’s mosque arson

Hindu temples in Canada and Australia have been vandalised in recent weeks, while a mosque in Auckland was set alight on Tuesday

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India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attends a smoking ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday with Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 1:14pm, 5 Nov 2024Updated: 2:12pm, 5 Nov 2024

India’s foreign minister on Tuesday responded to the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada, calling it “deeply concerning”, as New Zealand police separately said they were investigating an arson attack at an Auckland mosque.

“What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning,” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told reporters in the Australian capital Canberra on Tuesday 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 vandalised in Canberra last month, which Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said was upsetting for members of the Indian community.

India’s S. Jaishankar and Australia’s Penny Wong shake hands at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

“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.