"Hindus Go Back": BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir In California Vandalised With Anti-Hindu Messages

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California was vandalised on the Wednesday (25 September) night victim to vandalism with anti-Hindu messages, days after a similar act of vandalism at the BAPS Mandir in Long Island.

This incident also comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the US, raising concerns over the increasing targeting of Hindu temples in the United States.

"Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: “Hindus go back!” We stand united against hate with prayers for peace," the BAPS Public Affairs said in a post on X.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies responded to the temple in Mather, near Rancho Cordova, where they found the graffiti and discovered that vandals had also cut water lines on the property.

The Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into the vandalism.

The attack has been met with widespread outrage.

US Congressman Ami Bera, representative for California's 6th Congressional District, took to social media to voice his disapproval.

"There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected," Bera said.

The Hindu American Foundation extended its gratitude to Bera for his firm stance against this hate crime.

In a statement, the Foundation said, "This vandalism is an anti-Hindu hate crime targeting a Hindu temple with messages conflating Hindus with the Govt of India and telling Hindus to 'go home'".

The Sacramento incident echoes the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in New York on 17 September, where anti-Hindu messages were similarly spray-painted on the temple walls.

The Consulate General of India in New York denounced the act as "unacceptable" and urged prompt action against those responsible.

Several US lawmakers, including Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar, have condemned the spate of attacks on Hindu temples.

Thanedar referred to the latest incident as a "hideous act", urging that acts of "vandalism, bigotry, and hate" be thoroughly investigated.

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