The October 2 reports of vandalism at a park named 'Shri Bhagvad Gita' in Brampton drew flak from the Indian residents given the rise of hate crimes against Indians in Canada.
Though Brampton Parks Department later clarified that the reported blank sign was put up due to repair work and that a 'confusion' had prompted resident complaints about the park sign.
The incident drew flak from the Indian residents given the rise of hate crimes against Indians in the past one year.
The Indian government on September 23 in an advisory cautioned the Indian nationals and students from India in Canada to exercise due caution and remain vigilant.
The Ministry of External Affairs pointed to the sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activites in Canada underlining that the incidents were taken up with the Canadian authorities.
The advisory was issued following a spate of incidents targeting the Indians, Hindu temples and a diplomatic row over the "so called referndum" by pro-Khalistan' elements, which was reportedly help on September 19.
The Indian Mission in Canada on September 15 condemned the defacing of BAPS Swaminarayan Temple
On September 12, one 28-year-old Satwinder Singh was shot to death in Ontario. In April this year, 21 year-old Indian student Kartik Vasudev was also shot dead in Toronto.
Also watch: Canada: after 'vandalism' charges at Bhagavad Gita Park, officials issue clarification
The recurring nature of attack also dates back to 2021. In September last year, another 23-year-old Indian youth Prbhjot Singh Katri was allegedly killed in his apartment in what appeared as a racially motivated attack.
Owing to the farmers protest in Indian, Hindus in Canada were attacked by alleged Khalistani supporters in February last year, which resulted in the Indian External Affairs Ministry taking up the matter with Canadian authorities.
In another vandalism episode in August 2021, historic Komagata Maru Memorial was defaced in Canada, which was termed as 'racist attack' by the Punjabi diaspora.
Though these are some of the many episodes of sectarian violence, as the spate of such incidents has been on rise since 2020. Reports suggest that Canada, considerably an immigrant-frienldy country, witnessed a 72% surge in hate crimes between 2019 and 2021.
In 2021, hate crimes bases on religion spiked by 67%, as per Statistics Canada, a Canadian government agency, while the incidents of racial crime jumped by 6%.