‘Unfortunate Incident’: India Condemns Hindu Temple Vandalism In Canada

After the Hindu temple has been vandalised with anti-India graffiti in Windsor in Canada’s Ontario, Union Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday condemned the act as an “unfortunate incident,” news agency ANI reported. 

Speaking about the incident, MEA stated: “We condemn this, it is a very unfortunate incident. We have taken this up with the Canadian authorities.”

We condemn this, it is a very unfortunate incident. We have taken this up with the Canadian authorities: MEA on Canada temple vandalism

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023

The Windsor Police Department has launched an investigation into the vandalism as a “hate-motivated act,” and two individuals are wanted.

According to the official statement, police were dispatched to the Hindu temple on April 5 in response to an allegation of hate-motivated damage.

“On April 5, 2023, officers were dispatched to a Hindu temple in the 1700 block of Northway Avenue following a report of hate-motivated vandalism. Officers discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti sprayed in black on an exterior wall of the building,” Windsor Police’s statement was quoted by ANI in its report.

During the inquiry, investigators received a video showing two individuals in the area shortly after 12 a.m. (local time).

“In the video, one suspect appears to commit the vandalism on the wall of the building while the other keeps watch,” the statement reads. 

“At the time of the incident, one suspect wore a black sweater, black pants with a small white logo on the left leg, and black and white high-top running shoes. The second suspect wore black pants, a sweatshirt black shoes, and white socks,” the police further stated.

Windsor police have asked people in the temple’s close neighbourhood to examine their home cameras between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. (local time) for evidence of the suspects. Police have asked anybody with knowledge about the event to contact the Mortality Unit.

Early this month, the Ram Temple in Mississauga, Canada, was vandalised with anti-India graffiti. The Indian Consulate General in Toronto denounced the defacing of the Temple and urged Canadian authorities to examine the matter and take swift action against those responsible.

Taking to the Twitter, the Consulate General of India in Toronto stated: “We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti. We have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators.”

We have taken up with the Canadian authorities the hateful act of putting anti India graffiti on the walls of BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Windsor. We strongly condemn this act of vandalism.

— IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) April 6, 2023

Earlier, a Hindu temple in Brampton was damaged with anti-India graffiti in January, causing fury among the Indian population. The destruction of the Gauri Shankar Temple was denounced by the Consulate General of India in Toronto, who stated that the crime had greatly wounded the sensibilities of the Indian community in Canada.

(With Inputs From ANI)