Another Hindu temple vandalised with anti-India graffiti in California

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has reported that a Hindu temple in the US state of California was allegedly defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti. This incident occurred after the Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised with anti-India graffiti last month. The HAF raised concerns about the vandalism of California's Sherawali Temple in a social media post on January 5.

By sharing a photo depicting the defacement of the temple, the HAF aimed to draw attention to the incident and highlight the importance of raising awareness and taking action in response to acts of vandalism targeting places of worship.

“Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti. The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area,” the HAF wrote on social media X.

The foundation is in contact with temple leaders and is also in touch with the Alameda Police Department and Civil Rights Division in response to the vandalisation of the Sherawali Temple in California.

#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti.

The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area.… pic.twitter.com/wPFMNcPKJJ

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— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) January 5, 2024

Last month, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in Newark, California, faced vandalism with anti-India graffiti. Authorities were investigating the incident as a potential hate crime.

Also Read | Extremist, separatist forces outside India should not get space: Jaishankar on US temple vandalism 

"We condemn the vandalism of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in California. We welcome efforts by the Newark Police Department to ensure that those responsible are held accountable," the US State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs had said in a post on social media platform X.

The statement was made in response to an incident where suspected pro-Khalistan activists reportedly defaced the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California. The vandalism occurred on December 23 and involved the exterior wall of the Hindu temple being marked with anti-India graffiti.

As per images shared on social media, the word 'Khalistan' was spray-painted on a signpost outside the temple, along with other objectionable graffiti.