“We condemn the hate crime at the Shri Bhagvad Gita Park in Brampton. We urge Canadian authorities and Peel Police to investigate and take prompt action on the perpetrators,” High Commission of India in Ottawa said in a tweet.
We condemn the hate crime at the Shri Bhagvad Gita Park in Brampton. We urge Canadian authorities & @PeelPolice to… https://t.co/j6Xybm1hGF
— India in Canada (@HCI_Ottawa) 1664726212000
Park sign vandalised
A sign with the park’s name was allegedly vandalised and officials have ordered a probe, said city Mayor Patrick Brown who confirmed the incident on Twitter.
We are aware that the recently unveiled Shri Bhagavad Gita Park sign has been vandalized. We have zero tolerance f… https://t.co/jjAVRkvquC
— Patrick Brown (@patrickbrownont) 1664671066000
Brown condemned the incident and said ‘we have zero tolerance for this.’ He also said that the matter has now been flagged to Peel Regional Police for further investigation, adding that the Parks department is working to resolve and correct the sign as soon as possible.
‘Increasingly vocal anti-India group’
Meanwhile, Indian-origin Canada MP Chandra Arya said the incident was a “continuation of the hate crimes on Hindu temples” and is a “consequence of increasingly vocal and organised anti-India and anti-Hindu groups in Canada,
My statement on recent vandalism of the park sign in Brampton named after the Hindu holy book Bhagavad Gita. https://t.co/BOeFbQ9SLV
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) 1664729539000
MP for Brampton East Maninder Sidhu condemned the “heinous act” and said that such vandalism has “no place in our community”.
It has come to my attention that the Shri Bhagavad Gita Park sign in Brampton has been vandalized. This act of vand… https://t.co/qhhqqS7Cn8
— Maninder Sidhu (@MSidhuLiberal) 1664729404000
Park was recently renamed
The Brampton city municipal corporation had last week named a park ‘Shri Bhagavad Gita Park’ in ward 6 of the city. The park was renamed from Brampton’s Troyers Park to Shri Bhagavad Gita Park to commemorate the Hindu community and their contributions to the city.
The incident comes just days after the Swaminarayan Temple in Canada was vandalised with anti-India graffiti that prompted the Indian government to issue an advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada.
Advisory to Indians in Canada
“There has been a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs and our High Commission/Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate the said crimes and take appropriate action,” the MEA said in a statement.
The statement also stressed that “the perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada.” “In view of the increasing incidences of crimes as described above, Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant,” the statement added.
Canada is home to 1.6 million people of Indian origin and non-resident Indians.
(With inputs from agencies)
