India has expressed serious diplomatic concerns over the increasing incidents of Hindu temples being defaced with anti-India graffiti in the United States. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Indian Parliament that such incidents have occurred multiple times in recent years. These acts of vandalism have sparked outrage within the Hindu community, both in the US and in India. Singh emphasized that the Indian government has been actively addressing these issues through diplomatic channels with the US government, urging swift action against the perpetrators.
In his written response to a query in the Lok Sabha, Singh confirmed that the Indian government is taking all such incidents seriously. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been engaging with the US government, and relevant temple authorities and community associations have filed complaints with local law enforcement. They have called for proper investigations and stricter action against those responsible for these attacks. Additionally, the communities have demanded better security measures for places of worship in the US to prevent further incidents.
These cases of temple vandalism have been classified as hate crimes by US law enforcement agencies, and investigations are underway. Singh also noted that US Congress members have been vocal about the need for a more comprehensive strategy to counter hate crimes targeting the Hindu community. The most recent incident occurred at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California, where the defacement of the temple has sparked widespread anger and concern among Hindus. In response, the MEA issued a statement condemning the attack, calling for stringent action against the offenders and urging for increased security at religious sites.
This recent act of vandalism follows a series of similar incidents, including attacks on the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento and New York. These attacks have raised alarms over the safety of Hindu places of worship in the US. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), a prominent Hindu advocacy group, has also voiced concern over the rising wave of hate crimes and vandalism targeting Hindus and their religious institutions in the country.
The Indian government’s diplomatic engagement with the US continues as part of its efforts to ensure the safety and security of Hindu communities abroad and to address the growing issue of hate crimes against them.
