California: A Hindu temple in California, USA, has fallen victim to yet another act of vandalism, this time endorsing Khalistani sentiments. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) reported the defacement, which occurred just weeks after a prior incident where anti-Indian graffiti marred the Swaminarayan Mandir in California.
The targeted temple, Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, faced a copycat defacement, echoing the earlier attack on the Swaminarayan Mandir. This unsettling event transpired merely a week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same Bay Area. The HAF, taking note of the concerning trend, conveyed its ongoing collaboration with the temple representatives, Alameda Police Department, and the Civil Rights Division.
#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.
The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area.… pic.twitter.com/wPFMNcPKJJ
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024
India, alarmed by the escalating attacks on Hindu temples in the United States, including this recent incident, has expressed strong condemnation. In the previous defacement, pro-Khalistan and anti-India sentiments were spray-painted on the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple’s external walls in Newark. The Consulate promptly called for a swift investigation and action against the vandals, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar voiced his concern over the vandalism at the Newark temple in December, emphasizing the need to deny space to extremists and separatist forces outside India. The Indian Consulate registered a complaint with the U.S. government and local police, underscoring the urgency of the matter. EAM Jaishankar affirmed that the incident was under investigation, signaling a resolute stance against such acts of vandalism targeting places of worship.
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