Heartbreaking Desecration: Second BAPS Temple in California Targeted with Anti-Hindu Messages
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir near Sacramento, California, was defaced with anti-Hindu messages late Wednesday night, alarming the local Hindu community. The hate-filled graffiti included the phrase “Hindus go back,” and vandals also cut the temple’s water lines, exacerbating the damage. This incident closely follows a similar act of vandalism at the BAPS Mandir in New York less than 10 days ago, suggesting a troubling pattern of attacks on Hindu temples across the United States.
BAPS Public Affairs expressed sorrow over the recent defacement in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing unity and prayers for peace. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office confirmed their response to the incident at the temple in Mather, near Rancho Cordova.
Community leaders and organizations quickly condemned the attack. US Representative Ami Bera denounced the act on X, stressing that there is no place for religious bigotry in Sacramento County and urging the community to stand together against intolerance. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) also spoke out against the vandalism, noting the support from Representative Bera and criticizing the perpetrators for conflating Hindus with the Indian government.
This recent attack echoes the September 17, 2024, vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, which drew strong condemnation from the Consulate General of India in New York and several US lawmakers. Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar called for a thorough investigation into the New York incident, underscoring the necessity of combating all forms of vandalism, bigotry, and hate.
The consecutive attacks have raised concerns about the safety of religious minorities in the US. Hindu communities and their allies remain steadfast in their dedication to peace, unity, and tolerance despite these troubling events.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/international/story/second-baps-temple-desecrated-with-anti-hindu-messages-in-california-1098185-2024-09-26?utm_source=rssfeed
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