Canadian authorities are being urged to investigate after hateful graffiti reading “Indian Rats” was discovered near a Mississauga children’s park, raising serious concerns about rising racism and Hinduphobia in Canada.
The Council of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) Canada described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and said it reflects a broader pattern of intimidation and discrimination faced by Indo-Canadians.
“The hate is growing more visible, but the actions from law enforcement and lawmakers have not kept pace,” CoHNA said, calling on Peel Police to treat the incident as a hate-motivated crime and advocating for stronger anti-hate measures at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
The person who took the photo, an Indian immigrant who regularly walks past the area with their family, shared their personal experience with racism in Canada.
“The Canada I chose to immigrate to had a reputation of being a country of the nicest people on God’s green earth. But in my three years here, I’ve faced so many incidents of racism that I’ve lost count,” they said.
They described repeated experiences of being mistaken for a store employee or Uber Eats delivery driver, and being subjected to random checks while shopping.
“At first, I ignored these incidents or justified them as profiling, but over time I started to realise it was racism. And now this? This is right next to a children’s park. What did I even do to not deserve a respectful life here?”
The photo-taker highlighted their contributions to Canada’s economy, noting that in three years they have paid significant taxes, rent, and spent on local services.
“I’m still committed to contributing, but can Canada do its part? At the very least, can we adhere to basic social decency?” they said, warning that persistent racism could drive top talent away from the country.
CoHNA reiterated the urgent need for recognition of Hinduphobia as a distinct form of hate alongside other forms of racism and called for immediate action to address such incidents.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
