A Hindu temple in Newark, California has been defaced with pro-Khalistan, anti-India, and anti-Prime Minister Narendra Modi slogans.
Information about the defacement of the Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha temple was shared by the Hindu American Foundation on X (formerly Twitter).
Hindu Temple Defaced in California
© Photo : Twitter/@HinduAmerican
Anti-India Slogans Were Written on Walls of Hindu Temple in California
© Photo : Twitter/@HinduAmerican
In the post shared by the Hindu American Foundation, the walls and board of the temple were defaced with slogans against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The foundation said that the hateful messages may have been written to intimidate people visiting the temple and also create a “fear of violence”.
India’s top Hindu group, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), has strongly condemned the incident and demanded a “quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals and terror supporters” by US President Joe Biden.
“Defacing of SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Newark, California with anti-India graffiti is highly condemned. It had hurt the religious and patriotic sentiments of Bharat. A quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals and terror supporters, by Joe Biden and US authorities is needed”, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said in a tweet.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco also condemned the act of vandalism, saying that it has “pressed for quick investigation and prompt investigation”.
Consulate General of India in San Francisco Condemned Defacement of Hindu Temple in California
© Photo : Twitter/@CGISFO
Extremism Issue in US-India Relations
This is not the first time a Hindu temple has been vandalised or defaced in the US. Several such incidents have happened in the past in the US, as well as neighbouring Canada.
India has been expressing concerns over increasing activities by Khalistan supporters and demanding that the authorities of both countries clamp down on organisations trying to instigate separatist sentiments.
The incident came months after US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan supported Canada’s stance on a full-fledged probe into the killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has on various occasions termed the allegations false and baseless, claiming that they will investigate the matter if the countries provide proof.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi clearly stated that if any information is provided, India will definitely look into the matter.