The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California, which is among the largest Hindu temples in the US, was defaced with anti-India graffiti on Sunday. This comes amid a slew of such hate crimes against the US Hindu community in the past two years.
The BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) Public Affairs condemned the vandalism of the temple in Chino Hills, California, saying the Hindu community will remain resilient and "never let hate take root".
"In the face of another Mandir desecration, this time in Chino Hills, CA, the Hindu community stand steadfast against hate," the BAPS Public Affairs posted on X, adding that the common humanity and faith of the Hindu community will ensure that peace and compassion prevail.
The hate crime happened just a few days before the scheduled Khalistan referendum event being held in Los Angeles, California.
The Coalition of North America (CoHNA) slammed the deplorable act, saying it is no surprise that the vandalism occurred days before the "so-called Khalistan referendum. "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 stated.
In September 2024, BAPS Shri Swaminrarayan Mandir in Sacramento, also in California, was desecrated with hate messages like "Hindus go back" written on the temple sign. The suspect had also caused damage to the water lines on the property.
Similarly, less than two weeks before the Sacramento incident, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York was also vandalised in a hate crime. The Consulate General of India in New York condemned the "unacceptable and heinous" act and raised the matter with the US law enforcement authorities.
The attacks happened after Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had shared a video threatening Indian institutions.
In July, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, was was vandalised, following which Canadian MP Chandra Arya raised concerns about rising incidents of hate crimes against Hindus in Canada.