Latest news with #ChandraArya
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former Canada MP Chandra Arya launches lobby group to counter anti-Hindu rhetoric in Canada
File photo( ANI) Chandra Arya , former member of parliament for Nepean, Ottawa, has launched the Hindu Public Affairs Council of Canada (HPAC). Arya, originally from India, served in Canadian parliament for over nine years. He was removed as the Liberal candidate for Nepean shortly before the 2023 elections and replaced by Mark Carney. The Liberal Party's decision followed claims about his involvement with foreign influence related to India. Arya has remained outspoken about issues affecting Hindu Canadians , particularly concerns over the Khalistan movement . Arya criticises the movement's supporters, saying that such elements are undermining the Hindu community in Canada. The new lobby group claims to be "unapologetically Hindu" and "resolutely Canadian." In his announcement on social media, Arya highlighted that while the Hindu community in Canada is diverse, "India is our holy land." Operation Sindoor Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal Sirens, explosions in border districts after Pak breaks deal: What we know so far 'What happened to ceasefire?' J&K CM after explosions heard across Srinagar The newly formed HPAC will work to counter growing anti-Hindu rhetoric and what Arya perceives as the unchecked rise of Khalistani extremism. 'In an era when anti-Hindu and Khalistani forces are emboldened and our community is under siege, Canada HPAC rises with resolve,' Mr. Arya said in a post on X. 'We will not stay silent. We will not back down.' Arya also remarked that other faiths in Canada, such as Jewish and Muslim communities, have lobby groups that advocate for their interests, but Hindu Canadians lack a similar political presence. Despite the criticism, Arya has stressed that the HPAC will be funded through small donations from Hindu Canadians, rejecting the notion that his efforts are tied to Indian government interests.
Hans India
24-04-2025
- Hans India
Canadian Police release images of KDS gurdwara vandalism suspects
Vancouver: Canadian Police have released images of a vehicle and two people who were outside the Khalsa Diwan Society (KDS) Gurdwara on Ross Street in Vancouver when it was vandalised last week. The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) sought public assistance to identify the individuals as they investigated the matter. On April 19, the prominent KDS gurdwara in Canada was vandalised with pro-Khalistan graffiti, sparking outrage among the local Sikh community. "We believe these people may have information about this crime and what the motivation was. We ask anyone who recognises the people in these pictures, or the vehicle, to come forward and speak with our investigators," said VPD Sergeant Steve Addison. According to the police department, investigators from the major crime section of the department who have been collecting and analysing evidence from the crime scene and the surrounding neighbourhood, have obtained images of a white pickup and two people who were in the area at the time. "Police believe the truck drove through the area around the time of the offence, between approximately 4 and 4:30 a.m. on April 19. Two people, who are believed to be associated with the truck, then walked near the front entrance of the temple. One person was wearing a yellow cap, yellow jacket, and black pants. The other was wearing a grey hoodie with black pants," read the VPD statement. The police department further stated that it initiated a criminal investigation on April 19 after suspects spray-painted on the walls outside of the gurdwara, adding that the graffiti was written in both English and Punjabi. Last week, in a statement, the KDS condemned the act, describing it as a deliberate attempt to spread fear and division within the community. "A small group of Sikh separatists, advocating for Khalistan, defaced our sacred walls with divisive slogans like 'Khalistan Zindabad'," the gurdwara said. "This act is part of an ongoing campaign by extremist forces that seek to instil fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community. Their actions undermine the values of inclusivity, respect, and mutual support that are foundational to both Sikhism and Canadian society," it added. Following the recent vandalism of a Gurudwara in Vancouver, British Columbia, another disturbing incident surfaced where the Khlistanis targeted the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Surrey. Canadian MP Chandra Arya strongly condemned the incident, stating, "The attacks on Hindu temples that began several years ago continue unabated today -- this latest graffiti on the Hindu temple is yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism." Arya warned of a larger, coordinated effort behind such acts: "Well-organised, well-funded, and backed by significant political clout. Khalistani elements are brazenly asserting their dominance and successfully silencing Hindu voices across Canada."
NDTV
22-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Indian-Origin MP's Message To Hindus, Sikhs In Canada After Temple Vendalism
Ottawa: A temple was defaced by vandals in Canada's Surrey with pro-Khalistan graffiti, marking another incident targeting religious institutions in the North American nation. The incident took place on April 19 at the Shree Lakshmi Narayana Mandir in Surrey, after a Gurdwara in Vancouver, British Columbia, was desecrated with similar slogans. Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya took to social media to condemned the incident, calling it "yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism." "The attacks on Hindu temples that began several years ago continue unabated today, this latest graffiti on the Hindu temple is yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism. Well-organized, well-funded, and backed by significant political clout, Khalistani elements are brazenly asserting their dominance and successfully silencing Hindu voices across Canada," Arya wrote on social media platform X. He noted that Khalistani extremists have also targeted Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver with pro-Khalistan graffiti. In a statement issued after the desecration, KDS said, "This act is part of an ongoing campaign by extremist forces that seek to instill fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community." Arya called for unity among the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada to "rise with urgency and demand immediate, decisive action from authorities at all levels of government." "Silence is no longer an option," he said. Incidents of religious vandalism have been on the rise in Canada. In 2023, PM Modi had condemned the defacement of a temple in Brampton and asked the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law. Hindu Temple Vandalised "It is with deep sorrow that we inform the community of a disturbing incident that took place in the early hours of April 19, 2025, at approximately 3:00 AM. Two unidentified individuals vandalised the Shree Lakshmi Narayana Mandir in Surrey by defacing the entrance sign and the temple pillars with the word 'Khalistan', the temple authorities said in a statement. Images shared online by the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce showed the temple walls sprayed with pro-Khalistan slogans. The security camera was also stolen by vandals during this act. "We strongly condemn this hateful act of vandalism and theft, which is not only a crime but a direct attack on a sacred space that serves as a spiritual and cultural centre for many families, including elderly members and children," it said. "An FIR has been officially registered with the Surrey Police, and we are cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigation," the statement added. "We urge members of the public and leaders at all levels of government to join us in condemning this hate crime. Attacks on places of worship have no place in a respectful and diverse society of Canada," it said.
Hindustan Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Temple desecrated with pro-Khalistan graffiti in Canada's Surrey
A temple in Canada's Surrey was defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti at its entrance and the pillars, authorities said. The incident took place on April 19 at the Shree Lakshmi Narayana Mandir in Surrey, the temple said in a statement. 'It is with deep sorrow that we inform the community of a disturbing incident that took place in the early hours of April 19, 2025, at approximately 3 am. Two unidentified individuals vandalised the Shree Lakshmi Narayana Mandir in Surrey by defacing the entrance sign and the temple pillars with the word 'Khalistan', the statement said. Also, the security camera was stolen during this act. 'We strongly condemn this hateful act of vandalism and theft, which is not only a crime but a direct attack on a sacred space that serves as a spiritual and cultural centre for many families, including elderly members and children,' it said. 'An FIR has been registered with the Surrey police, and we are cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigation,' the statement added. ALSO READ | Canada: Hindu temple vandalised in GTA, police hunt two suspects 'We urge members of the public and leaders at all levels of government to join us in condemning this hate crime. Attacks on places of worship have no place in a respectful and diverse society of Canada,' it said. Ottawa Canadian MP from Ottawa Nepean Chandra Arya urged Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada to 'rise with urgency' and demand 'decisive' government action against Khalistani extremists following multiple incidents of defacement of religious sites. Sharing a video of the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce condemning the defacement of Shree Lakshmi Narayana Mandir on microblogging platform X, Arya said that the graffiti on the walls of the temple is 'chilling reminder of growing influence' of Khalistani extremism. 'The attacks on Hindu temples that began several years ago continue unabated... this latest graffiti on the Hindu temple is yet another chilling reminder of the growing influence of Khalistani extremism. Well-organised, well-funded and backed by significant political clout, Khalistani elements are brazenly asserting their dominance and silencing Hindu voices across Canada,' the Indian-origin Canadian MP wrote in his post on X. Referring to another incident where Khalistani graffiti was found at Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver, Arya noted that extremist groups were also targeting Sikh institutions. 'This Khalistani extremists have targeted Khalsa Diwan Society (Ross Street Gurdwara) in Vancouver with pro-Khalistan graffiti and intimidation tactics. In a statement issued after the desecration, KDS said that a small group of Sikh separatists, advocating for Khalistan, defaced our sacred walls with divisive slogans like 'Khalistan zindabad',' he said in the post. 'It is time for the Hindu-Canadians jointly with vast majority of our Sikh-Canadian brothers and sisters to rise with urgency and demand immediate, decisive action from authorities at all levels of government. Silence is no longer an option,' Arya added. With inputs from ANI
CBC
25-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Carney asked why former Liberal MP Arya was removed from election run
Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney, speaking in Halifax on Tuesday, Day 3 of the election campaign, responds to question why former three-term Liberal MP for Nepean Chandra Arya was removed from running in the riding, which Carney is now running in, and asked if it had something to do with Arya's close relations with the Indian government.
