Canada's Shri Bhagavad Gita Park sign vandalised days after renaming, Indian High Commission condemns 'hate crime'

Brampton's Troyers Park had been renamed earlier this week, with officials calling it a commemoration of the the Hindu community and all they contribute to the city.

TN National Desk

Updated Oct 2, 2022, 22:32 IST

Canada's Shri Bhagavad Gita Park sign vandalised days after renaming. (Photo: HCI_Ottawa/Twitter)

New Delhi: Days after its launch, a sign for the Shri Bhagavad Gita Park in Canada's Brampton area was vandalised by unknown miscreants. The incident has since prompted a sharp response from the High Commission, with Indian authorities calling for its Canadian counterparts to take prompt action.

"We condemn the hate crime at the Shri Bhagvad Gita Park in Brampton and urge Canadian authorities and Peel Regional Police to investigate and take prompt action against the perpetrators," the High Commission of India in Ottawa tweeted, sharing photos of the sign.

"We are aware that the recently unveiled Shri Bhagavad Gita Park sign has been vandalized. We have zero tolerance for this. We have flagged to Peel Regional Police for further investigation. Our Parks department is working to resolve and correct the sign as soon as possible," Mayor Patrick Brown had said earlier today.

Brampton's Troyers Park had been renamed earlier this week, with officials calling it a commemoration of the the Hindu community and all they contribute to the city.

The park, spread over 3.75 acres, will have sculptures of Lord Krishna and Arjuna on a chariot and some other Hindu deities. Lauding the initiative, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said that the park would help spread the Bhagavad Gita's eternal message of universal brotherhood, love and harmony. According to a statement released by the state government, the park is probably the only one outside of India to be named after the Bhagavad Gita.

Towards the end of September the Indian government had issued an advisory for its nationals in Canada and those travelling to that country to exercise due caution and remain vigilant in view of the "sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities" in the other country.

The Ministry of External Affairs also said the High Commission and Consulates General in Canada have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to investigate these crimes and take appropriate action. However the perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada.

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