In a shocking incident, a prominent Hindu temple in Canada’s Brampton became the latest target of a hate crime after anti-India graffiti was found on its walls.
The Consulate General of India in Toronto wasted no time in condemning this act of vandalism at the Gauri Shankar Temple. Condemning the act, the Consulate General said that the desecration of the temple deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada.
The temple, which is a symbol of Indian heritage, has been vandalized with hate messages towards India. Canadian authorities are currently investigating the incident.
The vandalism of the Hindu temple in Brampton is not an isolated incident, with at least three incidents of similar vandalism reported across Canada since last July.
Last September, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a strongly worded statement, saying there had been a “sharp increase” in hate crimes against Indians and other “anti-India activities” in Canada.
New Delhi urged the Canadian government to properly investigate the incidents.
Statistics Canada, the country’s national statistics office, has reported a 72 per cent increase in hate crimes targeting religion, sexual orientation and race in Canada between 2019 and 2021.
This has raised fears among minority communities, especially the Indian community, which is the fastest growing demographic group in Canada, accounting for about four per cent of the population.
Indian officials have repeatedly raised the issue of attacks on the Indian community in Canada by pro-Khalistani elements.
Read this also | Canada: Sikh man accused of killing his wife in British Columbia
Read this also | Sikh woman shot dead in Canada’s Ontario province