BAPS Temple Defaced In California With Anti-India Graffiti

New Delhi– The Indian government has voiced strong condemnation after a Hindu temple in Chino Hills, Southern California, was defaced with anti-India graffiti. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a prominent religious site, was vandalized on Sunday, marking yet another incident targeting the Hindu community in the United States.

The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) organization, which manages the temple, confirmed the incident, denouncing it as a hateful act intended to create division. BAPS Public Affairs asserted that the Hindu community will remain united and peaceful despite such provocations.

The vandalism occurred just days before a planned “Khalistan referendum” event in Los Angeles, raising concerns about escalating religious tensions in the region. Hindu groups have expressed outrage and are urging authorities to take immediate and decisive action.

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also condemned the attack, highlighting a pattern of Hindu temples being targeted in the US. CoHNA pointed out the timing of the incident, coinciding with the upcoming “Khalistan referendum” in Los Angeles, and called for a thorough investigation.

This incident is not isolated. In September of last year, similar acts of vandalism targeted BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs in Sacramento and New York, with hateful messages like “Hindus go back” being spray-painted on temple walls. These repeated attacks have caused alarm within the Hindu community and led to increased calls for better security measures at religious sites.

Hindu organizations and community leaders are urging law enforcement to respond quickly to these acts of desecration and ensure the safety and protection of Hindu temples in the US.