Canadian Prime Minister candidate Mark Carney toured the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto on Saturday (April 5), coinciding his visit with the observance of Ram Navami as a part of his campaign for Canada’s forthcoming April 28 federal elections.
At the temple, Indo-Canadian Cabinet Minister Anita Anand greeted Carney, who subsequently posted on X expressing his feelings. “So happy to welcome @markjcarney on his first visit to @bapstoronto to mark the birth of Lord Rama. A very Happy Ram Navami!” posted Anand. A number of Liberal Party MPs in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) joined the PM on the visit.
Hindu Voters Hold Key Influence in Canadian Politics
With approximately 600,000 Hindu Canadian voters, their presence constitutes a large voting bloc in key areas like the GTA, Metro Vancouver, and Alberta’s urban centers like Calgary and Edmonton. Their votes could be decisive in close races, and Carney’s visit constitutes a push to deepen the connection with this constituency.
Underlying Tensions Despite Outreach
Despite Carney’s gesture, tensions between the Hindu community and the ruling Liberal Party remain unresolved. Much of the friction stems from the party’s perceived leniency toward Khalistani extremism—a stance that has caused anxiety among Hindu Canadians.
A controversy last month caught attention when the party withdrew the candidacy of Indo-Canadian MP Chandra Arya due to unspecified “new information.” Arya has been an opponent of Khalistani extremism for a long time and has publicly denounced such ideologies. Therefore, he has been targeted by Khalistani groups.
In October, US-based Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take action against Arya. In an X post, Pannun alleged Canada should arrest Arya on charges of “spewing venom” against the Khalistan cause and claimed that he was “a mouthpiece of India.
A spate of attacks on Hindu places of worship further sent the community into alarm recently. Last week, the Halton Regional Police Service began investigating two suspects suspected of vandalising the Sri Krishna Brundavana Temple in the GTA. Surveillance footage captured the pair destroying and defacing signs at the entrance to the temple.
This attack is part of an alarming pattern. In September 2023, the outlawed pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) sent a threatening message, informing Hindu Canadians to “leave Canada; go to India.” The group blamed Hindu citizens for being behind India’s clampdown on Khalistani voices.
Community Calls for Government to Act Against Safety Threats
In response to Carney’s visit to the temple, the Hindu Canadian Foundation made a statement that also expressed the wider sentiments of the community. “The last few years have presented great challenges to the Hindu community, which has more than a million members,” the foundation said.
The recent escalation of anti-Hindu rhetoric, fueled by growing separatist forces, has touched every Hindu Canadian deeply. These issues of urgency will be a key priority for the new Government,” it further added.
With the federal election approaching, Carney’s visit to Hindu Canadians underscores the significance of their vote and the urgent need to address mounting concern about religious tolerance and public safety. Whether it will pay dividends at the ballot box will hinge on the government’s success in rebuilding trust and taking action that matters.