Latest news with #MinistryofExternalAffairs


Indian Express
33 minutes ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Despicable acts': India denounces eggs being thrown at Rath Yatra in Toronto
India strongly reacted to reports on eggs being hurled at devotees during Rath Yatra celebrations at Toronto in Canada Monday, calling such acts 'regrettable'. A woman in the procession noticed eggs being hurled at them from a nearby building and posted about it on Instagram. 'We have seen reports regarding disruption created by mischievous elements during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto. Such despicable acts are regrettable and are against the spirit of the festival, which seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and social harmony,' said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in response to media queries. Our response to media queries regarding an incident during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto, Canada 🔗 — Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 14, 2025 The MEA spokesperson said they had 'strongly' taken up the matter with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators of the act accountable. 'We hope the Canadian Government will take necessary action to protect the religious rights of people,' Jaiswal said. Expressing concern over the incident, former Odisha chief minister and the state's Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik said such incidents cause deep anguish to the people of Odisha. Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during #RathaJatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of #Odisha,… — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 14, 2025 'Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during #RathaJatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of #Odisha, for whom this festival holds profound emotional and cultural significance,' Patnaik wrote on X, urging the Odisha chief minister to take the matter seriously and to urge the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to register protest with Canadian authorities. In her post, the woman said: 'Someone from a nearby building threw eggs at us…Why? Because faith makes noise? Because joy looked unfamiliar? We didn't stop. Because when Lord Jagannath is on the streets, no hate can shake us. This is not just a festival — it's an unshakable belief'


Mint
an hour ago
- Politics
- Mint
India asks Canada to hold perpetrators accountable after Rath Yatra disrupted in Toronto: ‘Such despicable acts…'
India on Monday denounced the disruption of a Rath Yatra in Canada's Toronto over the weekend, saying that the matter had been strongly taken up with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable. The procession, which was organised by the Indian community and ISKCON Toronto, was pelted with eggs, multiple media reports said. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the incident 'despicable acts' and perpetrators as 'mischievous elements'. 'We have seen reports regarding disruption created by mischievous elements during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto. Such despicable acts are regrettable and are against the spirit of the festival, which seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and social harmony,' Jaiswal said in a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. 'We have strongly taken up the matter with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators of the act accountable. We hope the Canadian Government will take necessary action to protect the religious rights of people,' the MEA statement added. Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday expressed deep concern over reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during the Rath Yatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada, calling the incident deeply disturbing and hurtful to the sentiments of devotees of Lord Jagannatha worldwide. "Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during Ratha Jatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of Odisha, for whom this festival holds profound emotional and cultural significance," Patnaik said in a post on X. The remarks came in response to posts by Toronto-based Instagram user Sangna Bajaj, who alleged that eggs were thrown at devotees from a nearby building during the celebrations. "People from a building throw eggs at us," she wrote in one post. In another, she stated, 'Someone from a nearby building threw eggs at us. Have you ever experienced discrimination for your faith?' The Odisha government has started working on securing copyright for the rituals of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri to protect its traditional cultural expressions, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of the pilgrim town, said. According to a PTI report, the statement came amid resentments among the devotees of Lord Jagannath over the untimely celebration of Lord Jagannath's rituals by the ISKCON abroad and the West Bengal government's declaration of a temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham". These are "gross violations" of sacred scriptures and ancient tradition, the Gajapati Maharaja, considered the first servitor of the Lord Jagannath, told PTI in an interview. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a temple at the seaside town of Digh on April 30 and called it 'Jagannath Dham', much to the chagrin of the Odisha government, the Shankaracharya of the Puri Govardhan Peeth Nischalananda Saraswati and a large number of devotees.


India.com
an hour ago
- Politics
- India.com
Egg Thrown at Rath Yatra in Toronto Sparks Outrage; India Calls It 'Regrettable'
After a video and photos of the Rath Yatra in Toronto, Canada surfaced online showing eggs being hurled at the procession, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Monday called it 'regrettable' and said such an incident is 'against the spirit of the festival.' In response to media queries regarding an incident during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto, Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have seen reports regarding disruption created by mischievous elements during the Rath Yatra procession in Toronto. Such despicable acts are regrettable and are against the spirit of the festival, which seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and social harmony. We have strongly taken up the matter with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators of the act accountable. We hope the Canadian Government will take necessary action to protect the religious rights of people." Earlier, the former Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik also condemned the incident, stating that it not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide but also caused deep anguish to the people of Odisha. "Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during Rath Yatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of Odisha, for whom this festival holds profound emotional and cultural significance," Patnaik said in a post on X.


India Gazette
2 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Deeply disturbed": Naveen Patnaik on reports of eggs hurled at Ratha Jatra devotees in Toronto; urges Odisha Govt, MEA to act
Toronto [Canada], July 14 (ANI): Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday expressed deep concern over reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during the Ratha Jatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada, calling the incident deeply disturbing and hurtful to the sentiments of devotees of Lord Jagannatha worldwide. 'Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during Ratha Jatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of Odisha, for whom this festival holds profound emotional and cultural significance,' Patnaik said in a post on X. Urging prompt action, he called on the Odisha Government and the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with Canadian authorities. 'If these media reports are accurate, the Odisha Government should take the matter seriously and urge the Ministry of External Affairs to register a strong protest with the Canadian authorities,' he added. The remarks came in response to posts by Toronto-based Instagram user Sangna Bajaj, who alleged that eggs were thrown at devotees from a nearby building during the celebrations. 'People from a building throw eggs at us,' she wrote in one post. In another, she stated, 'Someone from a nearby building threw eggs at us. Have you ever experienced discrimination for your faith?' In a troubling recurrence of targeted attacks on Hindu places of worship across Canada, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton fell victim once more to vandalism. The recent attack adds to a string of similar incidents documented in recent years, underscoring a distressing trend of religious intolerance. Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor suffered defacement with anti-India graffiti, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for action from both Canadian and Indian officials. Earlier incidents in Mississauga and Brampton saw temples similarly targeted, drawing strong reactions from the Indian community in Canada. Canadian law enforcement agencies have been urged to take proactive measures to address these threats and ensure the safety and security of all religious communities in Canada. The incidents have prompted renewed discussions on bolstering security measures around Hindu temples and enhancing efforts to combat extremist propaganda. Meanwhile, several global reports have highlighted the growing concerns over Khalistani sympathisers operating within Canada, with incidents often linked to calls for an independent Khalistan state in India's Punjab region. (ANI)


Canada News.Net
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
"Deeply disturbed": Naveen Patnaik on reports of eggs hurled at Ratha Jatra devotees in Toronto; urges Odisha Govt, MEA to act
Toronto [Canada], July 14 (ANI): Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday expressed deep concern over reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during the Ratha Jatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada, calling the incident deeply disturbing and hurtful to the sentiments of devotees of Lord Jagannatha worldwide. 'Deeply disturbed to know about the reports of eggs being hurled at devotees during Ratha Jatra celebrations in Toronto, Canada. Such incidents not only grievously hurt the sentiments of Lord Jagannatha's devotees worldwide, but also cause deep anguish to the people of Odisha, for whom this festival holds profound emotional and cultural significance,' Patnaik said in a post on X. Urging prompt action, he called on the Odisha Government and the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with Canadian authorities. 'If these media reports are accurate, the Odisha Government should take the matter seriously and urge the Ministry of External Affairs to register a strong protest with the Canadian authorities,' he added. The remarks came in response to posts by Toronto-based Instagram user Sangna Bajaj, who alleged that eggs were thrown at devotees from a nearby building during the celebrations. 'People from a building throw eggs at us,' she wrote in one post. In another, she stated, 'Someone from a nearby building threw eggs at us. Have you ever experienced discrimination for your faith?' In a troubling recurrence of targeted attacks on Hindu places of worship across Canada, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton fell victim once more to vandalism. The recent attack adds to a string of similar incidents documented in recent years, underscoring a distressing trend of religious intolerance. Last year, a Hindu temple in Windsor suffered defacement with anti-India graffiti, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for action from both Canadian and Indian officials. Earlier incidents in Mississauga and Brampton saw temples similarly targeted, drawing strong reactions from the Indian community in Canada. Canadian law enforcement agencies have been urged to take proactive measures to address these threats and ensure the safety and security of all religious communities in Canada. The incidents have prompted renewed discussions on bolstering security measures around Hindu temples and enhancing efforts to combat extremist propaganda. Meanwhile, several global reports have highlighted the growing concerns over Khalistani sympathisers operating within Canada, with incidents often linked to calls for an independent Khalistan state in India's Punjab region. (ANI)