India has strongly condemned the vandalism of a Hindu temple in California. Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal has appealed to law enforcement officials to take strict action against those responsible.
According to the statement of the Ministry of External Affairs, “We have seen reports about the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California. We strongly condemn such despicable acts. We call upon local law enforcement authorities to take strong action against those responsible for these acts and ensure adequate security of places of worship.”
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, one of the largest Hindu temples, was vandalised with ‘anti-India’ messages. The ‘anti-Hindu’ messages included phrases like ‘Hindus go back’, which worried the local Hindu community. Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) has also strongly condemned the incident.
The official page of BAPS shared details of the incident on social media platform X, saying that they will ‘never allow hate to take root’ and that peace and compassion will prevail. BAPS Public Affairs wrote, “At the desecration of yet another temple, this time in Chino Hills, CA, the Hindu community stands firm against hate. Together with the community in Chino Hills and Southern California, we will never allow hate to take root. Our shared humanity and faith will ensure that peace and compassion prevail.”
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA) also shared details of the incident on X and said that the desecration of the iconic BAPS temple in California came ahead of the ‘so-called Khalistan referendum’ in Los Angeles.