MP condemns defacing of Hindu temple Ram Mandir in Mississauga

A Member of Parliament spoke out against the defacing of Hindu temple Ram Mandir in Mississauga.

Hateful graffiti was found on Ram Mandir’s outside walls on Tuesday (Feb. 14).

One piece of graffiti criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and another referred to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the slain Sikh separatist leader, as a “martyr”.

Bhindranwale was killed in June 1984 when Indian military troops attacked the complex where the leader and his followers were amassed and had a weapons stockpile. (Indira Gandhi, the prime minister who ordered the attack, was assassinated months later.)

Both Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown spoke out against the vandalism. Peel Regional Police are investigating.

Yesterday (Feb. 16), Nepean MP Chandra Arya condemned the defacing of the Mississauga temple during question period in Parliament.

“It is with pain and anguish I note that the Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple in Mississauga, has become the latest target of hate crime,” Arya said.

Hindu temples across Canada have been targets of hate crimes by anti-Hindu and anti-India groups, he said.

Just a few weeks ago, on Jan. 30, temple priests at Shri Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton found graffiti on a wall that faces a major street.

Arya said the anti-Hindu groups have met on social media and started the trend of “Hindu phobia”.

“Canada needs to take the issue seriously and address the growing Hindu phobia,” he said.

It is with pain and anguish I note that the Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple in Mississauga has become the latest target of hate crime
Authorities in Canada need to seriously look into the activities of anti-Hindu & anti-India groups and take action now
My statement in parliament today pic.twitter.com/5U4t0HoQRt

— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) February 16, 2023

With files from Nathan Sager