Mallika Dureja
On Tuesday, the Consulate General of India in Toronto spoke out against the fact that anti-India graffiti was written on a ram temple in Mississauga, a city next to Toronto.
A picture posted on Twitter by the Hindu American Foundation showed that slogans criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praising Khalistan leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had been spray-painted on the temple’s white walls. Scroll couldn’t check the picture on its own.
“We are very upset that anti-India graffiti was put on the Ram Mandir in Mississauga,” the Consulate General of India in Toronto said. “We have asked Canadian authorities to look into what happened and take quick action against those responsible.”
We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Missisauga with anti-India graffiti. We have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators.
— IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) February 14, 2023
Iqwinder S. Gaheer, the MP for Mississauga-Malton, said he was upset by what happened and is in touch with the temple’s leaders. “Spray paint was used to damage the temple walls,” Gaheer said in a tweet. “The person or people who did it should be found and held responsible. I’m still in touch with Mandir’s management to figure out what to do next.
The mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, told The Indian Express on Tuesday that it was “vandalism motivated by hate.”
Deeply saddened to have a Mandir in Mississauga vandalized. Spray paint was used to vandalize the walls of the temple. The individual(s) responsible should be found and held accountable. As of yet, I am directly in touch with Mandir management to determine a path forward.
— Iqwinder S. Gaheer (@IqwinderSGaheer) February 15, 2023
“This possible hate crime is being taken very seriously by the Peel Police and Chief of Peel Regional Police Nishan Duraiappah,” Brown said. “Twelve Division has carriage of the investigation and they will find those responsible. Religious freedom is a Charter right in Canada, and we will do everything we can to make sure everyone is safe at their place of worship.
Also read: Mirza Ghalib couplets: Tribute on his death anniversary.
A few months ago, anti-India graffiti was written on the walls of another temple in Toronto. At the time, Canada MP Chandra Arya said that Khalistani extremists had broken things in the ram temple.
