India Condemns Vandalism At Hindu Temple In California; Calls For Action

On Sunday, India strongly condemned the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California, urging local authorities to take strict measures against those responsible.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, condemned the attack as ‘despicable’. He urged immediate action to safeguard religious sites.

Taking to X, he posted, “We have seen reports regarding the vandalism at a Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California. We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms. 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.”

The incident occurred at the BAPS Hindu Temple in Chino Hills, where desecratory messages were reportedly found.

The attack took place just days before a planned ‘Khalistani referendum’ event in Los Angeles.

The official US X account of BAPS reported the incident, emphasizing the community’s resilience.

The statement reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stating that hate will never take root and that compassion will always triumph.

“In the face of another Mandir desecration, this time in Chino Hills, CA, the Hindu community stand steadfast against hate. 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 posted on X.

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also condemned the incident. It noted that such attacks on Hindu temples have become a recurring pattern in recent years.

In a social media post, the group noted that such acts coincide with events promoting separatist agendas, stressing the need for a thorough investigation.

Taking to X, CoHNA posted, “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. Not surprising this happens as the day for a so called “Khalistan referendum” in LA draws close.”

CoHNA further highlighted previous cases of temple vandalism since 2022 and reiterated calls for authorities to take decisive action to prevent such incidents in the future.

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