A statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the revered Indian King who founded of the Sikh Empire, was defaced during a pro-Palestinian protest in Malton, Canada, sparking widespread anger and outrage within the Indian community worldwide.
The Hindu American Foundation has issued a statement calling the attack on Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s statue “a hate crime.”
“We are outraged by the defacement of the statue to Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Ontario, Canada. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh emperor, is universally respected in India as a defender of the nation by defeating Afghan invaders.”
The act, captured on video, quickly went viral on social media, drawing attention to the disrespectful nature of the incident. The video, which surfaced on 28th September, shows two masked individuals climbing onto the statue, with one of them tying a cloth around the horse of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The protestors, identified as pro-Palestinian supporters, filmed the defacement alongside a group of demonstrators present at the scene.
Daniel Bordman, a senior correspondent for the National Telegraph, condemned the act, stating, “Jihadists in Brampton, Canada attack and deface a statue of Ranjit Singh. This isn’t about Israel or Palestine, it’s about the destruction of everything that is not part of the Muslim Brotherhood’s worldview.”
Earlier in August 2021, members of the Islamist political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) vandalised a nine-foot-tall statue of Ranjit Singh at Lahore Fort, Pakistan. TLP workers broke its arm and later completely dislodged it.
In her post, Ruch Wali, member of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), pointed the hypocrisy of Khalistanis in North America, “Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s empire spanned from Khyber Pass-Sutlej River & Kashmir-Thar Desert. He embodies #Sikh pride & unity Yet, deafening silence & no outrage from the lot demanding a Sikh State #Khalistan, when his statue is defaced in Canada (same reaction when it happened in Paksitan).”
The present video from Canada, lasting 37 seconds, has ignited outrage, with many highlighting the cultural and historical importance of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, often referred to as the “Lion of Punjab,” is remembered as a formidable leader and military strategist. Born in 1780 in Gujranwala (now in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan), he founded the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century, successfully repelling Afghan invasions and consolidating his power over Punjab.
Despite losing sight in one eye due to smallpox as a child, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s leadership skills were unparalleled. He challenged the might of the Afghans, resisted British expansion, and ruled for four decades. His administration was known for its inclusivity, embracing people of various religious backgrounds, including Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans.
The Peel Police in Canada have been informed of the incident and are currently investigating, though no official statement has been released.
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