New York: A prominent Hindu temple in California was defaced with anti-India graffiti by some unknown persons in another incident targeting the community’s sacred spaces in the US.
Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) said that its Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills city of San Bernardino County faced desecration.
Chino Hills borders Los Angeles County. The organization emphasized that the Hindu community remains resilient in the face of such incidents.
“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,” BAPS Public Affairs stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The act of vandalism comes just days before a scheduled ‘Khalistan referendum’ event in Los Angeles, raising concerns about rising religious tensions. The desecration has sparked widespread outrage among Hindu organizations, with many calling for immediate action from authorities.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also condemned the attack, highlighting the repeated targeting of Hindu temples in the US. “Another Hindu Temple vandalized – 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. Not surprising this happens as the day for a so-called ‘Khalistan referendum’ in LA draws close,” CoHNA wrote on X, urging authorities to investigate the incident.
Temple vandalisation in US
This is not the first instance of temple desecration in the region. In September last year, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento was defaced with inflammatory messages, just days after a similar attack on the BAPS temple in New York. Messages such as “Hindus go back” were found scrawled on the walls, alarming the local Hindu community and prompting calls for enhanced security measures.
Hindu organizations and community leaders have urged law enforcement agencies to take swift action to address these incidents and ensure the protection of religious institutions.
