On February 14, the Indian Consulate General in Toronto condemned the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti.
It requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators. “We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti. We have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators,” the Consulate General of India in Toronto tweeted.
This is not the first time that a Hindu Temple in Canada was defaced with anti-India graffiti. A Hindu Temple in Brampton, Canada, was defaced in January, with anti-India graffiti triggering outrage among the Indian community.
The vandalism of the Gauri Shankar Mandir was strongly criticised by the Indian Consulate General in Toronto, stating that the incident had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada.
The consulate office, in a statement, said, “We strongly condemn the defacing of Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton, a symbol of Indian heritage, with anti-India graffiti. The hateful act of vandalism has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada. We have raised our concerns on the matter with Canadian authorities.”
The Canadian authorities are investigating the incident, and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown also condemned the vandalism
“This hateful act of vandalism has no place in our City or Country,” adding that he had raised his concerns over this hate crime with Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah,” Brampton Mayor tweeted.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their place of worship,” the Brampton Mayor said. In September 2022, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Canada was defaced by ‘Canadian Khalistani extremists’ with anti-India graffiti.
Expressing deep concern on attacks on Hindu temple in Canada, Vishva Hindu Parishad Spokesperson, Vinod Bansal said, “Persistent attacks on Hindu temples in Canada must stop forthwith. Hindu community throughout the world is hurt by such repeated incidents. Canadian Government must take strict action against the perpetrators”.
Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament, Canada, tweeted, “Vandalism of Toronto BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir by Canadian Khalistani extremists should be condemned by all. This is not just an isolated event”.
These kinds of hate crimes have targeted Canadian Hindu temples in the recent past. Hindu Canadians are legitimately concerned. Also, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was defaced in July 2022. In both instances, pro-Khalistan slogans were painted, and pro-Pakistan handles promoted vandalisation on social media.
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