GUWAHATI: The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, was defaced with anti-India graffiti, marking the second such incident targeting a Hindu temple in the US state within five months. The act has drawn widespread condemnation, including from India's Ministry of External Affairs.
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In a statement issued on Sunday, March 9, the Ministry denounced the vandalism as a "despicable act" and urged local law enforcement to take strict action against those responsible. The Ministry also called for adequate security measures to protect places of worship.
The BAPS organisation in the US confirmed the incident on Saturday night, affirming that the Hindu community remained united in the face of hatred. The organisation expressed its resolve to ensure that peace and compassion would prevail despite attempts to sow division.
According to reports, phrases like "Hindus go back" were spray-painted on the temple walls. The Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA) condemned the incident, pointing out that anti-Hindu hate is often overlooked or dismissed. The group highlighted that at least 10 temples across the US have faced vandalism or burglary since 2022.
The CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America)- Hindu American Foundation, also condemned the act, sharing images of the defacement on social media platform X, saying, Another Hindu Temple vandalized - this time the iconic BAPS temple in Chino Hills, CA. It’s just another day in a world where media and academics will insist there is no anti-Hindu hate and that #Hinduphobia is just a construct of our imagination.. The organisation called on prominent figures such as FBI official Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and the Chino Hills Police Department to investigate the incident as part of a concerning trend of anti-Hindu hate crimes targeting religious spaces.
Another Hindu Temple vandalized - this time the iconic BAPS temple in Chino Hills, CA. It’s just another day in a world where media and academics will insist there is no anti-Hindu hate and that #Hinduphobia is just a construct of our imagination.
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) March 9, 2025
Not surprising this happens as… https://t.co/SXNmyRuTiT pic.twitter.com/V4P77wUKAV
