'Canada is our Land' MP Chandra Arya defends Hindu-Canadians against Gurpatwant Pannun's demands
Says Hindus from various parts of the world have made substantial contributions to Canada's socio-economic development
Ottawa (Canada), July 24: In a strong rebuttal to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's video demanding that he and his Hindu-Canadian friends return to India, Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya declared that "Canada is their home and that they have significantly enriched the country's multicultural fabric".
Chandra Arya said Hindus from various parts of the world had made substantial contributions to Canada's socio-economic development. He shared a post on X, stating, "In response to my condemnation of the vandalism of the Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton and other acts of hate and violence by Khalistan supporters in Canada, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice has released a video demanding me and my Hindu-Canadian friends to go back to India."
Arya further highlighted that Hindu-Canadians, with their rich cultural and heritage background, had strengthened Canada’s multiculturalism. He also held Khalistani extremists accountable for "polluting" Canada with their actions.
"We Hindus have come to our wonderful country, Canada, from all parts of the world. From every country in South Asia, many countries in Africa and the Caribbean, and many other parts of the world, we have come here, and Canada is our land," Arya wrote.
"We have made and continue to make an immense positive and productive contribution to the socio-economic development of Canada. With our long history of Hindu culture and heritage, we have enriched the multicultural fabric of Canada. Our land is being polluted by Khalistani extremists abusing our freedoms guaranteed by our Canadian Charter of Rights," he added.
In a troubling recurrence of targeted attacks on Hindu places of worship, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton was vandalised again this week. Member of Parliament for Nepean, Chandra Arya, voiced deep concern over the escalating incidents of hate-fueled violence directed at Hindu-Canadian communities.
"The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalized again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada are being vandalized with hateful graffiti," Arya said in a post on X on Tuesday, sharing the picture.
Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor was defaced with anti-India graffiti, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for action from both Canadian and Indian officials. Earlier incidents in Mississauga and Brampton saw temples similarly targeted, drawing strong reactions from the Indian community in Canada.