ꦺThe Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Hindu temple in California was vandalised by unidentified persons who reportedly made graffiti on the walls on Saturday.
𒆙The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) public affairs department confirmed that Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills faced the desecration.
🌸MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a brief media address stated that "India strongly condemns an incident of vandalism at a Hindu temple in California's Chino Hills" and demanded "stringent action" against those involved.
💞New Delhi also called for adequate security to the places of worship in view of the incident.
What Did Temple Authorities Say?
💫The BAPS Public Affairs in a post on X, wrote, "In the face of another Mandir desecration, this time in Chino Hills, CA, the Hindu community stands steadfast against hate. Together with the community in Chino Hills and Southern California, we will never let hate take root."
ꦺ"Our common humanity and faith will ensure that peace and compassion prevail," it said, without providing details of the incident.
Hindu Bodies In US React
𒈔The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), an advocacy group dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America, drew attention to past such cases and demanded a thorough investigation.
🔯"Another Hindu Temple vandalised - this time the iconic BAPS temple in Chino Hills, CA. It’s just another day in a world where media and academics will insist there is no anti-Hindu hate and that #Hinduphobia is just a construct of our imagination," it said on X.
𒊎"Not surprising this happens as the day for a so-called "Khalistan referendum" in LA draws close," it said.
🌜Hindu American Foundation, a non-profit advocacy group, said the vandalism at the largest Hindu temple in California occurred on Saturday and demanded the FBI and its Director Kash Patel to probe the matter.
ꩵ"We ask @ChinoHills_PD, @FBI @FBIDirectorKash @DNIGabbard to investigate this latest in a string of anti-Hindu hate crimes on our sacred spaces," it said.
Ministry of External Affairs Condemns Act
♍India on Sunday strongly condemned an incident of vandalism at a Hindu temple in California's Chino Hills and demanded "stringent action" against those involved.
༒New Delhi also called for adequate security to the places of worship in view of the incident.
🔯"We have seen reports regarding the vandalism at a Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California. We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
﷽"We call upon the local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts, and also ensure adequate security to places of worship," he said.
🍰Jaiswal was responding to media queries on the incident.
Similar Incidents
🎀CoHNA gave a list of 10 temples that have been vandalised or burglarised in the last few years.
ꩵIn September, the BAPS Hindu temple in California's Sacramento was desecrated with expletive-laden graffiti, saying "Hindus go back!"
🧜Nearly 10 days before the Sacramento incident, another BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was defaced with hateful messages.
🅘The Consulate General of India in New York had strongly condemned the incident.
