India on Friday ‘strongly’ condemned the vandalism of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Sacramento in United States’ California on September 24. The Consulate General of India, San Francisco has taken up the matter with local authorities to take immediate action against those responsible.
Taking to X, the Consulate General of India, San Francisco said, “The Consulate General of India, San Francisco strongly deplores the act of vandalism which took place on September 24th night at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California. @cgisfo has taken up the matter with local authorities to take immediate action against those responsible.”
The Consulate General of India, San Francisco strongly deplores the act of vandalism which took place on September 24th night at @BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California. @cgisfo has taken up the matter with local authorities to take immediate action against…
— India in SF (@CGISFO) September 26, 2024
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised Thursday with ‘anti-Hindu’ messages like “Hindus go back.” This was the second incident of desecration of an Hindu temple in the US in 10 days. BAPS, a non-profit “Hindu” organisation, said the incident was reported at the temple in Sacramento.
Ami Bera, who represents the Sacramenta County in the US House, condemned the incident and urged the people to stand against intolerance. “There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty.All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected,” he said in a post on X.
The incident comes only 10 days after a New York based temple was defaced drawing condemnation from the Indian consulate.
“Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, our Mandir (Hindu place of worship) in Sacramento, California was desecrated and vandalized with hateful messages,” BAPS said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Hindu American Foundation has flagged concerns over the alarming rise of anti-Hindu hate to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The body also condemned the incident saying “We stand with @BAPS_PubAffairs and demand justice. It is unacceptable that Hindu temples are being targeted to air hatred against Indian and Hindu American communities.”
