Hindu temple vandalized in California, anti-India graffiti drawn, India demands action

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, was vandalized with anti-India graffiti, marking another attack on a Hindu place of worship in the United States. The incident comes days before a planned pro-Khalistan referendum in Los Angeles. The temple, part of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), is among the largest Hindu temples in the country.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned the act, calling it "despicable" and urging US law enforcement agencies to take strict action. "We call upon the local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts and also ensure adequate security to places of worship," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.

The BAPS organization denounced the vandalism, emphasizing unity and resilience in the face of hate crimes. "Together with the community in Chino Hills and Southern California, we will never let hate take root. Our common humanity and faith will ensure that peace and compassion prevail," BAPS Public Affairs said in a statement. The temple’s official social media account reaffirmed its commitment to peace, harmony, and selfless service.

This is not the first such incident targeting Hindu places of worship in the US. In September last year, a BAPS temple in Sacramento was defaced with hateful messages, and another temple in Melville, New York, was vandalized shortly before that. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) linked the Chino Hills incident to a pattern of escalating attacks, pointing out that it occurred just before the upcoming Khalistan referendum.

Local law enforcement has not yet issued an official statement on the Chino Hills incident. In previous cases, police have investigated temple vandalism as potential hate crimes. The Hindu community and advocacy groups continue to call for stronger action to prevent further attacks on religious institutions.