BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised and desecrated on Thursday with ‘anti-Hindu‘ messages like “Hindus go back.” This comes only 10 days after a New York based temple was defaced drawing condemnation from the Indian consulate.
“Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, our Mandir (Hindu place of worship) in Sacramento, California was desecrated and vandalized with hateful messages,” BAPS, a non-profit “Hindu” organisation said in a statement.
“Our condemnation of hate remains resolute; our sadness has only deepened; and our prayers for all, including those with hate in their heart, have grown stronger,” it added.
Ami Bera, who represents the Sacramenta County in the US House, condemned the incident and called upon the people to stand against intolerance.
There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected,” he said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the Hindu American Foundation has written to the Senate Judiciary Committee detailing the “history and alarming rise of anti-Hindu hate, particularly against Hindu places of worship, citing recent data from both the FBI and State of California. “
It also condemned the incident saying “We stand with @BAPS_PubAffairs and demand justice. It is unacceptable that Hindu temples are being targeted to air hatred against Indian and Hindu American communities.”
Earlier this month, New York Congressman Tom Suozzi had condemned hate crimes following the vandalism of the BAPS Sri Swami Narayan Mandir in Melville, Long Island. The incident involved graffiti that displayed “vile hate and bigotry” towards the Hindu community.
“Late Sunday night, vandals defaced the BAPS Sri Swami Narayan Mandir on Long island with vile hate and bigotry against the Hindu community,” he had said.