Gauri Shankar Mandir defaced with anti-India graffiti in Canada; SFJ alleged to be involved
- In Reports
- 12:59 PM, Jan 31, 2023
- Myind Staff
Gauri Shankar Mandir, a prominent Hindu temple in Canada, was defaced with anti-India graffiti in Canada. It is suspected that the temple was defaced by the terror organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and other Khalistani group.
The Hindu temple is located in Brampton in Canada. The walls of the temples were defaced with hate-filled messages directed against India.
Condemning the act of vandalism, the Indian Consulate General in Toronto said the defacing of the temple has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community in Canada.
"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 have begun an investigation into the incident. Notably, it is not the first time that a Hindu temple has been vandalised in Canada. Since July 2022, three other Hindu temples have been vandalised in Canada.
Times Now's Bhavatosh Singh reported that it is suspected that the banned terror organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and other Khalistani groups could be behind the anti-India graffiti. The SFJ later uploaded the video of defacing of Gauri Shankar Mandir on social media.
Meanwhile, Chandan Acharya, a Canadian MP, condemned the defacing of Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton. He urged the authorities to take appropriate action to stop such attacks on temples.
"The attack of Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton is latest in attacks on Hindu temples in Canada by anti-Hindu and anti-India groups. From hatred on social media, now physical attacks on Hindu temples, what next? I call on government at all levels in Canada to start taking this seriously," Acharya tweeted.
Statistics Canada, the country's national statistical office, has reported a 72 percent increase in hate crimes targeting religion, sexual orientation and race in Canada between 2019 and 2021.
This has led to increased fears among minority communities, particularly the Indian community, which is the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada, accounting for almost four percent of the population.
Image courtesy: Pixabay

Comments