India takes up Brampton Gauri Shankar temple defacing with Canada

Gauri Shankar Mandir: A prominent Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada has been targeted with anti-India graffiti, causing outrage among the Indian community. The temple, which is a symbol of Indian heritage, has been left vandalized with hate-filled messages directed towards India.

Condemning the act of vandalism at Gauri Shankar Mandir, the Indian Consulate General in Toronto said the defacing of the temple has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada.

We strongly condemn defacing of Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton,a symbol of Indian heritage, with anti-India graffiti. The hateful act of vandalism has deeply hurt sentiments of Indian community in Canada. We have raised our concerns on the matter with Canadian authorities.

— IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) January 30, 2023

“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 consulate office said in a statement on Tuesday. The Canadian authorities are currently investigating the incident.

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The defacing of the Hindu temple in Brampton is not an isolated incident, with at least three similar acts of vandalism recorded in Canada since last July.

Last September, the Indian Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement, saying there has been a sharp increase in hate crimes against Indians and other anti-India activities in Canada. New Delhi had urged the Canadian government to properly investigate the incidents.

The Indian Embassy in Canada has conveyed its serious concerns over the defacing of a Hindu Gauri Shankar temple in Brampton, Greater Toronto, by suspected so-called Sikh separatists to Global Affairs, Canada, and has separately asked the local law enforcement agencies to act against the perpetrators.

This has led to increased fears among minority communities, particularly the Indian community, which is the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada.

Indian officials have repeatedly raised the issue of attacks on the Indian community by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

The defacing/graffiti incident follows an incident in Melbourne, Australia where Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple was vandalized with hate-filled graffiti by so-called Khalistan separatists with Indian Embassy to Australia taking up the issue with the federal government.