CANBERRA, Australia — India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, expressed deep concern on Tuesday over the recent vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada, calling the incident “deeply troubling.” Jaishankar’s remarks came during a press conference in Canberra, where he is on an official visit.
The vandalism on Monday follows weeks of escalating tensions between India and Canada, marked by Ottawa’s expulsion of six Indian diplomats. The diplomatic fallout stems from allegations by Canada that Indian officials were involved in the 2023 killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil — accusations that New Delhi has firmly denied. Canada has claimed that India is waging a broad campaign against South Asian dissidents within its borders, a charge the Indian government rejects.
This latest incident has fueled already strained relations, heightening tensions between Canada’s Sikh separatist groups and Indian officials. Last month, two Hindu temples in Canberra were also vandalized, an occurrence that Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described as deeply unsettling for Australia’s Indian community.
During the press conference, Jaishankar also criticized Canada’s surveillance of Indian diplomats, labeling it “unacceptable.” Despite ongoing diplomatic challenges, Jaishankar and Australian officials expressed optimism about the stability of the Quad alliance, stating that they believe it will remain resilient regardless of the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
