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Priests from Ayodhya on Wednesday condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Sacramento, California. This incident marked the second attack on a BAPS temple in the past 10 days.
They also urged the Indian government to take immediate action following the vandalism. Diwakaracharya of the Lila Bihari Temple in Ayodhya expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on Hindu temples worldwide. He referred to the recent vandalism in Sacramento, which is being investigated as a hate crime by local police. "It is extremely worrying how Hindu temples are being targeted. The Indian government needs to analyse how Hindus and their temples are becoming unsafe worldwide," he said. Diwakaracharya also blamed certain individuals of Indian origin, accusing them of engaging in anti-India activities abroad, thereby weakening India's global image. He further called on the Indian government to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the safety of Hindus and their places of worship. "The government should ensure that Hindus and Hindu temples are safe all over the world. India, as the birthplace of Hindus, holds responsibility if Hindus are harassed globally," he added. The priest also urged the California state government to protect its citizens and religious establishments, particularly Hindu temples, from such attacks. "The miserable condition and second-class treatment of Hindus in California will not be accepted," he said. Mahant Avdhesh Das, Treasurer of the Saint Shri Tulsidas Ramlila Committee in Ayodhya, also expressed concern. He blamed internal divisions within Hindu society, saying, "Some of our Jaichands (traitors) born within the Hindu society talk nonsense to earn their political bread, and as a result, we are being attacked in foreign countries as well. We are trying to strengthen the Hindu society to prevent such attacks, both domestically and abroad." The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento was vandalised on the night of September 25, just days after a similar incident at the BAPS Mandir in New York. Graffiti with anti-Hindu messages such as "Hindus go back" alarmed the local Hindu community. In response, the community vowed to stand united against hate. The BAPS Public Affairs team stated on X (formerly Twitter), "We stand united against hate with prayers for peace." The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office confirmed the vandalism and noted that vandals had also cut water lines at the property. Ami Bera, U.S. Representative for California's 6th District, condemned the act, stating, "There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in Sacramento County." The Hindu American Foundation thanked Bera for addressing the hate crime, calling it "an anti-Hindu hate crime."(ANI)
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