India protests after Rath Yatra in Toronto disrupted by 'mischievous elements', eggs thrown at devotees

Randhir Jaiswal said, 'We hope the Canadian Government will take necessary action to protect the religious rights of people.'

New Delhi: India on Monday lodged protests with Canada after a Ratha Yatra procession in Toronto in the North American country was disrupted by “mischievous elements”, who purportedly threw eggs at the devotees.

“We hope the Canadian Government will take necessary action to protect the religious rights of people,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in New Delhi. “Such despicable acts are regrettable and are against the spirit of the festival, which seeks to promote unity, inclusivity, and social harmony.”

The incident came to light after an India-Canadian, Sangna Bajaj, posted a video on Instagram, alleging that when she and other devotees had been participating in Ratha Yatra in Toronto, someone from a nearby building threw eggs at them.

“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,” Neveen Patnaik, former chief minister and president of the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, posted on X.

“We have strongly taken up the matter with Canadian authorities to hold the perpetrators of the act accountable,” the MEA spokesperson said.