India, April 21 -- A historic gurdwara in Canada's Vancouver was desecrated with pro-Khalistan graffiti in the early hours on Saturday and its management placed the blame for the vandalisation on "extremist forces."

The Khalsa Diwan Society or KDS gurdwara in Vancouver, better known as the Ross Street gurdwara, was spraypainted with pro-Khalistan and anti-India graffiti.

In a statement issued after the desecration, the KDS said: "A small group of Sikh separatists, advocating for Khalistan, defaced our sacred walls with divisive slogans like 'Khalistan Zindabad'."

It said it "mourns a painful moment in our community's history as we gather to celebrate Khalsa Sajna Diwas - a day that symbolises the strength, unity, and resilience of Sikh...