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India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Indias Consulate General In Chicago Condemns Desecration Of BAPS Temple, Calls It Reprehensible
The Consulate General of India in Chicago on Wednesday strongly condemned the desecration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana, involving the vandalism of the temple's main signboard, marking the fourth such anti-Hindu act of desecration against a temple in the US in the past year. Describing the act as "reprehensible", the Consulate, in a statement on X, confirmed that it was in close contact with the local Hindu community and had taken up the matter with US law enforcement agencies, urging swift action against those responsible. "Desecration of main signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana is reprehensible. The Consulate is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with law enforcement authorities for prompt action. Today Consul General addressed a gathering of devotees and local leadership including Hon'ble Mayor of Greenwood, calling for unity & solidarity and vigilance against miscreants there," the Consulate stated. Earlier, the Public Affairs division of the socio-spiritual organisation, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, called the act a "hate crime" and reaffirmed the community's commitment to stand united against anti-religious bigotry. "For the 4th time in less than a year, one of our Mandirs has been desecrated by a hateful act. The anti-Hindu hate crime against the BAPS Mandir in Greenwood, IN has only strengthened our community's resolve, and we remain united in our stand against anti-religious behaviour," it stated in a post on X. US Congressman Nick LaLota also condemned the act, stating, "Religiously motivated crimes like these must be condemned and those who commit them must be held accountable. Live and let live!" in a post on X. US Congressman Tom Suozzi also condemned the act, urging the prosecution of the perpetrators and further calling out "hatred and bigotry". "This is the third hateful attack on a BAPS Temple. We must prosecute the perpetrators and educate against hate. We must all call out hatred and bigotry when we see it," Suozzi stated in a post on X. This incident follows a series of similar attacks on Hindu temples in the United States, drawing sharp condemnation from Indian authorities and community organisations. Earlier this year, on March 9, India strongly condemned the vandalism at a Hindu temple in California. Reacting to the incident, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed the act "despicable" and urged US law enforcement agencies to take stringent action against those responsible.
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Khalistanis vandalise Hindu temple in US yet again, India seeks strict action
In the fourth such incident targeting Hindu places of worship in the US this year, a Hindu temple of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) in Greenwood, Indiana, has been desecrated, allegedly by pro-Khalistanis, according to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). The organisation said the temple's walls were defaced with anti-India and anti-Prime Minister Narendra Modi an advocacy group, linked the desecration to pro-Khalistan extremists. Meanwhile, another group, the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), urged authorities to classify the incident as the fourth such hate Public Affairs, in a social media post, said the latest incident has only strengthened the community's resolve to stand united against anti-religious behaviour. "For the 4th time in less than a year, one of our Mandirs has been desecrated by a hateful act. The anti-Hindu hate crime against the BAPS Mandir in Greenwood, IN has only strengthened our community's resolve, and we remain united in our stand against anti-religious behavior," BAPS said in the post on X on Hindu American Foundation denounced the incident, attributing it to pro-Khalistan extremists known for employing similar methods Consulate General of India in Chicago said it was in touch with the local community and law enforcement agencies."Desecration of the main signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana is reprehensible. The Consulate is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with law enforcement authorities for prompt action. Today Consul General addressed a gathering of devotees," wrote the Consulate General of India in Chicago, US on DESECRATED WITH SLURS AGAINST AMERICAN HINDUS"For the 4th time in less than a year, a Hindu Mandir (temple) has been desecrated—this time the BAPS Mandir in Greenwood, IN. Vandalising temples with anti-India graffiti is a tactic often used by pro-Khalistan separatist activists—and a stark reminder of how slurring American Hindus as 'Hindutva' fuels hate like this," the Hindu American Foundation said in a group also urged officials to act beyond condemnations to hold the attackers accountable."It's time elected officials move beyond empty condemnations and ensure perpetrators are held accountable," it group posted a video with the post, revealing temple walls defaced with graffiti expressing anti-India temple's walls were desecrated on August 10, according to BAPS. A MESSAGE OF HATE AND INTOLERANCE AGAINST HINDUSMarmik Brahmbhatt, a volunteer with BAPS, described the graffiti as "a message of hate and intolerance against Hindus," according to the Indy Star news offending message was removed after it was reported to the Greenwood Police Department, Indy Star, which is part of the USA Today Network, characterised the offence as a hate crime, according to the urged the authorities to treat this as a hate crime and to study this crime against the background of a growing national event is the latest in a string of attacks targeting Hindu temples across the U.S., prompting strong criticism from Indian officials and community on March 8, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills was defaced with anti-India graffiti, less than five months after a similar act of vandalism at another Hindu temple in to the incident, the External Affairs Ministry in March condemned the "despicable act in the strongest terms."In an official statement, the Ministry also called upon "local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts, and also ensure adequate security to places of worship."A report filed with the Greenwood Police Department confirms that an active investigation is underway into "criminal mischief" at the mandir located on South Madison Street, according to the Indy September 25, 2024, the BAPS Hindu temple in Sacramento, California's capital, was vandalised with offensive graffiti, including messages like "Hindus go back."Just days earlier, a BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was similarly defaced with hateful Consulate General of India in New York strongly condemned the incident and raised the matter with US authorities- EndsMust Watch
