3 days Ago By TOI World Desk
The government on Friday informed Parliament that there have been multiple instances in recent years of Hindu temples in the United States being defaced with anti-India graffiti . Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha, confirmed that such incidents have occurred and have been taken up with the US government through diplomatic channels. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) said that all cases involving attacks and desecration of Hindu temples in the US are being addressed at the highest levels.
Temple management authorities and community associations have lodged complaints with local law enforcement agencies, calling for thorough investigations and stringent action against those responsible. Singh added that US law enforcement authorities have classified such cases as hate crimes and are actively investigating them. Recent incidents have further highlighted the issue.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, was recently vandalised, sparking strong reactions from the Hindu community. In response, the MEA issued a statement condemning the act, calling for swift action against the perpetrators and enhanced security for places of worship. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms.
We call upon the local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts and ensure adequate security for places of worship." The incident in Chino Hills follows a pattern of similar attacks. Last year, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento was targeted on September 25, just days after another attack on the BAPS Mandir in New York.
Hate messages, including statements such as "Hindus go back," were painted on the walls, causing distress within the local Hindu community. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), an advocacy group focused on raising awareness about Hindu issues, expressed concern over the increasing incidents. The organisation linked the recent vandalism to the approaching "Khalistan referendum" in Los Angeles, alleging that anti-Hindu sentiment was being deliberately fuelled.
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