In California’s Hayward, another Hindu temple has been attacked with anti-India graffiti. The defacing of Vijay’s Sherawali Temple with pro-Khalistani scribblings comes merely two weeks after Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised, and theft took place at Shiv Durga temple in the same vicinity.
On social media platform X, the image of the temple was shared by a Hindu group, ‘Hindu American Foundation’ “#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”.
This latest incident adds to a growing number of attacks on Hindu temples in the United States, strongly condemned by India. Last month, a Hindu temple was in California with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti on its exterior walls. In the incident at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Newark, the word ‘Khalistan’ was spray-painted on a signpost outside the temple along with other objectionable graffiti.
India’s Consulate General in San Francisco strongly condemned the incident and said the incident hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. “We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter,” the Consulate wrote on X at that time.
Even earlier in December, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed concern about the Newark temple vandalism. “I have seen the news. As you know, we are concerned about this. Extremists and separatist forces outside India should not get space. Our consulate has lodged a complaint with the (US) government and the police there over whatever happened, and I believe the matter is being inquired,” Jaishankar said in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, in response to a query about the incident.
Image Source: SN