Hindu Temple Vandalised With Pro-Khalistan, Anti-India Slogans In US

A Hindu temple in the United States was vandalized with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti on its exterior walls. The Hindu-American Foundation has shared pictures of the defacement at Newark's Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha in Newark, California was defaced with pro-#Khalistan slogans. @NewarkCA_Police and @CivilRights have been informed and a full investigation will follow. We are insisting that this should be investigated as a hate crime," it stated.

"This incident has 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 General of India in San Francisco added.

The post elaborated that the reference to the Khalistan terrorist leader Bhindranwale, who targeted Hindus, was intended to distress temple-goers and instil a fear of violence. The message emphasized that such actions met the definition of a hate crime according to the CA.

This marks a recurring pattern of Hindu temples being targeted by Khalistani extremists overseas. Similar incidents have occurred in Australia and Canada. The Government of India has consistently raised this issue on numerous diplomatic platforms.

In August, Khalistani supporters vandalized a temple in Surrey, Canada. Allegedly, these sympathizers trespassed over the exterior boundary and deliberately affixed Khalistan referendum posters onto the main entry gate and the entrance of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, one of the oldest temples in British Columbia. The posters urged Canada to investigate India's "role" in the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18.