Leaders from a popular Hindu temple in Surrey are demanding an apology from NDP MLA Rachna Singh after she said several members of the congregation were calling for violence at a vigil honouring slain Indian soldiers.

At a rally on Tuesday, members of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society said Singh made ill-conceived remarks about the Hindu community in both an op-ed and subsequent statements to the media.

"Either she is with us, or she is not with us," said Purshodam Goyal, a council member at the society. "We stand for the unity and integrity of India, and whoever is going to challenge [that] — we are going to stand against it."

Goyal says members of the temple and the local Hindu community at large are hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between India and Pakistan, although many would like to see justice for the lives that have been lost.

He says the temple doesn't condone calls for violence.

Tensions flared inside this temple at a vigil following the Feb. 14 attack. Congregation leaders said a small group of passionate attendees were calling for revenge against Pakistan, but the congregation as a whole is advocating for a peaceful resolution, (Jon Hernandez/CBC)

A heated vigil

The tensions stem from a vigil that took place shortly after a terror attack on more than 40 Indian Parliamentary soldiers.

Goyal says hundreds of people attended the event held at the Laxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey. MLA Rachna Singh was one of them.

In an op-ed written by Singh published in the Indo-Canadian Voice, the Surrey-Green Timbers MLA said several speakers attempted to "instigate the congregation against Pakistan."

She said speakers that advocated for peace, including herself, were shouted at. She said a group of attendees chanted "blood for blood."

Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh says she was shouted at during the vigil. She says tensions have simmered in the days since. (CBC)

Singh responds

On Friday, Singh told CBC News she stands by her remarks — but she admits it was a small group of people who were the instigators.

"My whole concern was about peace, and I was disturbed by what some members were saying that day," she told CBC News. "It was not an attack on the community. It was not an attack on the management. But I was quite disturbed by the talk of violence."

Singh said she doesn't think an apology is warranted, but she is willing to sit down with members of the congregation to sort out any differences.

"lf I said something they have issues with, we can talk about it," she said. "I'm willing to have a dialogue."

Among the issues raised, Goyal says, the community would like Singh to take a stronger stance against Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism.

"She should say, openly, clearly, unconditionally, yes Pakistan should stop that, and that is not acceptable. And she failed to do that," he said.