India condemns vandalism of Hindu temple in California
What's the story
India has denounced the recent vandalism of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, one of Southern California's largest Hindu temples.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the act "despicable" and called for strict action against those responsible.
The temple was defaced with anti-India graffiti on Sunday, marking another incident in a series of such attacks targeting places of worship across the US in recent months.
MEA's stance
MEA calls for stringent action against vandalism
MEA condemned the incident, saying, "We have seen reports regarding the vandalism at a Hindu temple in Chino Hills, California."
It also urged law enforcement agencies to take strict action against perpetrators of such acts and called on them to ensure adequate security in places of worship.
The incident raises concerns, especially with an upcoming Khalistan referendum.
Community reaction
Community responses to temple vandalism
The BAPS Public Affairs wing said the incident was another display of hate against the Hindu community, adding that the community will never let hate take root.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), an advocacy group focused on addressing concerns related to North America's Hindu community, also condemned the vandalism.
It noted that Hindu temples in the US had been targeted repeatedly and called on authorities to investigate the incident.
History
Previous incidents of temple vandalism
This isn't the first case of temple vandalism in the area. Last September, another BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento was vandalized, with hate messages inscribed on its sign.
The Sacramento Police are investigating this case as a potential hate crime.
Nearly 10 days before the Sacramento case, another BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was vandalized with hateful messages.