“These heinous acts against the Indian community in Canada is a reflection of the rising tide of hate crimes targeting the Hindu community throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.”
— Ajay Shah, Convenor of HinduPACT and American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD)
HinduPACT, a leading Hindu advocacy organization, condemned the recent acts of vandalism at the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton, Canada and the Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Canada, reported hindupost.in.
“These heinous acts against the Indian community in Canada is a reflection of the rising tide of hate crimes targeting the Hindu community throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Australia” said Ajay Shah, Convenor of HinduPACT and American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD). Shah continued, “HinduPACT calls on the Canadian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“The desecration of Hindu temples is a deplorable act and an attack on the religious freedom of the Hindu community,” said Tejal Shah, Convenor of the Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) and Jt. General Secretary of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA). “HMEC represents hundreds of Hindu Mandirs in North America and stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Canada and calls for a swift and thorough investigation into these hate crimes.”
Vallabha Tantry, Director of Temple Relations for HinduPACT, said: “These acts of vandalism are not isolated incidents and are the third and fourth recorded acts of a ‘hate crime’ in Canada since last July. It has raised fears among minority communities, particularly the Indian community, which is the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada and North America.”
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September 2021, a Hindu temple in Swindon, UK was desecrated for the fifth time
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February 2022, at least six Hindu temples were vandalized or burgled in Toronto in a span of two weeks
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August 2022, a Gandhi statue placed outside of a Hindu temple in Queens, York was vandalized twice in two weeks
Earlier this year, a prominent Hindu mandir in Australia was desecrated by Khalistani extremists.
On January 31, the Gauri Shankar Mandir was defaced and on Thursday, the Ram Mandir was vandalized with the words “Declare Modi terrorist (BBC) and Hindustan Murdabad,” which translates to “death to India.” The defacing of these temples, which are a symbol of Indian heritage, are not isolated incidents. Since July of last year, at least three similar acts of vandalism have been reported in Canada and the United States and several others have taken place globally.
In September 2021, a Hindu temple in Swindon, UK was desecrated for the fifth time. In February 2022, at least six Hindu temples were vandalized or burgled in Toronto in a span of two weeks. In August, a Gandhi statue placed outside of a Hindu temple in Queens, York was vandalized twice in two weeks.
Earlier this year, a prominent Hindu mandir in Australia was desecrated by Khalistani extremists.
HinduPACT urged the Canadian government to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all minority communities in the country. The Indian community, which is the fastest-growing demographic group in North America, should not live in fear of hate crimes and attacks.
Khalistani supporters demonstrate in London: Meanwhile, after the series of attacks in Australia and Canada, Khalistanis raised anti-India slogans outside Indian High Commission in London on Saturday, February 18. Republic TV on Sunday accessed visuals of Khalistan supporters sloganeering against India in London. The Khalistani supporters not just raised Pro-Khalistani slogans but also chanted anti-India slogans outside the Indian High Commission.
Taking to Twitter, former president of Andhra Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said, “KhaIistanis raising anti-India-Modi slogans outside Indian High Commission in London. They are still living in their fairyland that they can benefit themselves with these sorts of protests! They are doing harm to themselves only.”
The anti-India sloganeering by Khalistani supporters in London came days after a Hindu Temple was targeted in Canada by some Khalistani elements.
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