External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada was "deeply concerning".
"What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning," news agency Reuters quoted him as saying in the Australian capital Canberra while on an official visit.
India recently expelled six Canadian diplomats including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler amid an escalating row over the investigation into the murder of pro-Khalistan Sikh radical Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023. Canada has claimed the role of "Indian agents" in the killing of Nijjar, while New Delhi has denied these allegations.
The External Affairs Ministry on Monday said the Indian government "condemns acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists". It called on its Canadian counterpart to ensure all places of worship are adequately protected.
Strongly condemning the "deliberate attack" PM Narendra Modi said such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve. "I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law," he wrote in a post on X.
A Hindu temple in Windsor was defaced last year, sparking widespread calls for action from both Canadian and Indian officials.