3rd January 2025 – Over the past several years, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists have been trying to reclaim the lost glory of the word “Swastika”. Particularly, in the Western world, the revered symbol has been wrongfully associated with Adolf Hitler’s Hakenkreuz.
In yet another attempt of such kind, this time World Jain Organization Canada has reached out to the Toronto Police Services (TPS) and urged to remove the word “Swastika” in the context of hate symbol.
In a letter issued by the organization, it clarified that “Swastika word remains very auspicious to the several religions and faiths and it has no relation to Nazi hate symbol. Nazis and Hitler never used the word Swastika, rather they used the word hakenkreuz for their hatred towards jews and during jew holocaust.”
The usage of the word “Swastika” for Hitler’s hate symbol picked in the United States in the 1970s.
The letter further stated that Canada’s Criminal Code also does not use the word “Swastika” in a hate context.
Vijay Jain who is the President of the organization has submitted a request to TPS to make necessary changes in their database. He has also met TPS officers and explained the situation. He looks forward to a positive response from the police department.
Below is the full copy of the letter.
Featured Image and Letter Courtesy: World Jain Organization Canada
