Hindu temple defaced again in US' California with anti-India, pro-Khalistan graffiti

Another Hindu temple was defaced and attacked with anti-India and pro-Khalistani graffiti in the US state of California. The Hindu American Foundation informed about the incident and said they are in touch with temple leaders and in contact with Alameda Police as well as civil rights division at the Justice Department. The image of vandalism posted on social media showed the words ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ spray-painted on a sign post outside the temple along with other objectionable graffiti. According to HAF, the Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement merely two weeks after the Swaminarayan temple attack and a week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in California. A photo of the vandalisation of the California’s Sherawali Temple was also shared by HAF on its page on X.

#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.

The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area.… pic.twitter.com/wPFMNcPKJJ

— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024

The HAF has asked Hindu temples in the region to install security cameras and alarm systems in view of “rising threat from Khalistan proponents as well as the omnipresent risk from anti-Hindu actors”. Also, the HAF has shared the temple safety guide which specifically discusses that temple graffiti qualifies as a hate crime. On 23 December, 2023, Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha in California’s Newark was defaced with pro-Khalistani slogans. The pictures were shared on X by the Hindu American Foundation, showing slogans scribbled on the walls of the Hindu temple.

#Breaking: Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha in Newark, California was defaced with pro-#Khalistan slogans.@NewarkCA_Police and @CivilRights have been informed and full investigation will follow.

We are insisting that this should be investigated as a hate crime. pic.twitter.com/QHeEVWrkDj

— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) December 22, 2023

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External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar took the note of the incident of temple vandalism in Newark, and reiterated that extremists and separatists should not be given space. “I have seen it. Extremists, separatists and such forces should not be given space. Our Consulate there complained to the government and the police and an inquiry is underway,” Jaishankar had said. With inputs from agencies