Mississauga temple defaced with graffiti, Indian consulate calls for action

After The Hindu American Foundation shared visuals reportedly of a Ram Temple in Mississauga being defaced with Graffiti, The Consulate General of India in Toronto strongly condemned the alleged vandalization on Tuesday, calling for immediate action on the same.

“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.” The Consulate stated in a tweet on Tuesday.

We strongly condemn the defacing of Ram Mandir in Missisauga with anti-India graffiti. We have requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action on perpetrators.

— IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) February 14, 2023

“Vandalism occurred overnight (February 13th) at the Shri Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. We at the Ram Mandir are very disturbed by this occurrence and we are working with the appropriate law enforcement authority on this matter,” the Facebook page of the temple detailed.

Visuals shared by the Hindu American Foundation on Twitter, reportedly of the temple, showed the exteriors of the temple being defaced with spray-painted slogans.

Mississauga-Malton MP Iqwinder S Gaheer also took to Twitter to state that those involved should be “held accountable” and that he is in touch with the temple authorities.

“Deeply saddened to have a Mandir in Mississauga vandalized. Spray paint was used to vandalize the walls of the temple. The individual(s) responsible should be found and held accountable. As of yet, I am directly in touch with Mandir management to determine a path forward,” Gaheer tweeted.

Deeply saddened to have a Mandir in Mississauga vandalized. Spray paint was used to vandalize the walls of the temple. The individual(s) responsible should be found and held accountable. As of yet, I am directly in touch with Mandir management to determine a path forward.

— Iqwinder S. Gaheer (@IqwinderSGaheer) February 15, 2023

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, in a tweet, detailed that an investigation of the incident is underway, regarding the incident as a “potential hate crime.”

“I am saddened to hear of the hate motivated vandalism at the Ram Mandir Temple in Mississauga. Unknown suspects spray painted the walls on the back of the temple. This type of hate has no place in Peel Region,” the Brampton Mayor tweeted.

“The @PeelPolice & @ChiefNish are taking this potential hate crime very seriously. 12 Division has carriage of the investigation & they will find those responsible. Religious freedom is a Charter right in Canada & we will do every thing we can to make sure everyone is safe in their place of worship,” Mayor Brown added in another tweet.

The @PeelPolice & @ChiefNish are taking this potential hate crime very seriously. 12 Division has carriage of the investigation & they will find those responsible. Religious freedom is a Charter right in Canada & we will do every thing we can to make sure everyone is safe in… https://t.co/uOkL8iaIaL

— Patrick Brown (@patrickbrownont) February 15, 2023

Back in September, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto was also reportedly vandalized similarly by graffiti. Back then, the Ministry of External Affairs of India had issued a statement condemning the rise of hate crimes against Indians in Canada.