Anti-Hindu violence surge in Canada raises concern

From a rath yatra in Toronto pelted with eggs and a river ritual attracting attacks to temples being vandalised, incidents of Hinduphobia continue to rise in Canada, fuelled by rising xenophobia in the country.

- Anirudh Bhattacharyya

The rath yatra or chariot fest, an annual event, organised by ISKCON in Toronto, was disrupted as eggs were tossed at the procession by unidentified miscreants on Saturday.

That left members of the congregation shocked since the rath yatra is a Toronto staple, with this being its 53rd edition. “Anti-immigration sentiment is feeding into this,” a committee member of ISKCON Toronto told the Hindustan Times.

A police report was filed. In a statement, ISKCON Communications North America said it “strongly condemns this disrespectful and potentially dangerous act. There is no place for such behaviour in a multicultural and tolerant society like Canada”.