In Canada’s Brampton, the breeding
ground for anti-Indian activities by separatists, vigilance has been heightened
amid complaints of Hindu phobic comments on social media surrounding the tallest
statue of Lord Hanuman
Rajasthan sculptor Naresh Kumawat, who
is known for his expertise in sculpting Hindu deities, created the statue and has
erected over 200 statues across 80 countries.
The 55-foot-tall statue, being constructed
with the help of donation money at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, is 95
per cent complete with some work on the pedestal remaining. It is set to be
unveiled to mark Hanuman Jayanti on April 23 next year, informed a temple
priest.
“There is security at our temple, and we
will be keeping watch at night as well,” said temple priest Phool Kumar Sharma
adding that the construction did not flout any municipal norms.
Reacting to social media posts, Phool Sharma
said, “What they are saying is an attack on our religion and that is wrong.”
Few netizens began unleashing hate
remarks earlier this week, with a handle posting “another reminder that we need
an immediate halt on all immigration into Canada.”
“That’s quite excessive and will undoubtedly
be an eye-sore that people who have nothing to do with this temple or Hindu
culture will have to see every day. They could have been a little more
respectful about the size,” read another post.
“Canada is a white Christian country.
You can leave. Zero immigration and repatriation ASAP,” was yet another
reaction.
Another hatemonger wrote, “It’s time for
dynamite.”
Some questioned the need for it, while
others alleged the statue of Sir John A Macdonald is still boarded up in a box
at Queen’s Park.
Reacting to these remarks, Ottawa-based journalist
Rupa Subramanya pointed out that the Hanuman statue is on a private property,
paid for by donations and other private funds, and violates no city zoning
regulations or bylaws.
“The Hindu demigod Hanuman has nothing
to do with the cancellation of Sir John A by the progressive left,” she wrote
on X in response to a post questioning the statue’s erection.
“The
barrage of dehumanizing, bigoted and racist hate messages I am receiving from
so-called freedom-loving Canadians merely for standing up for the rule of law
is quite extraordinary. Imagine a statue can trigger this kind of reaction,
that too from a religion that is non-threatening and non-proselytizing,” her
post on X read.
Backing the right of the temple, Montreal-based
political analyst Anthony Koch posted, “Privately funded and situated on
private property. Nothing wrong with this. Hindus are allowed to build
religious monuments on land that they own, same as anyone else.”
Notably, Brampton has witnessed many separatist
activities recently, like targeting Indian diplomats in Canada outside the
Bharat Mata Mandir, protesting at a consular camp for issuing life certificates
to the Indian Government pensioners, and vandalising the Ram Mandir in
Mississauga city with anti-India slogans.
NE Watch Desk
