India has sought an investigation into a prominent Hindu temple in California being vandalised with pro-Khalistan slogans and anti-India graffiti. The incident came to light when images were shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Hindu-American foundation.
The photos showed walls of Newark’s Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha spray-painted with hateful slogans against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Reacting to the incident, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said such ‘extremists’ should not be given space. He underlined that the Indian Consulate in San Francisco has already taken up the matter with the US authorities and an investigation is underway.
“I have seen the news. As you know, we are concerned about this. Extremists and separatist forces outside India should not get space. Our consulate has lodged a complaint with the (US) government and the police there over whatever happened, and I believe the matter is being inquired,” Mr Jaishankar told reporters.
The Indian embassy in San Francisco strongly condemned the incident and said that it had hurt the sentiments of the Indian community.
“This incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter,” they wrote on X.
According to the temple administration, the incident took place on Thursday night.
“One of the devotees, who lives close to the shrine, discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in black ink on an exterior wall of the building, and the local administration was immediately informed,” Bhargav Raval, the spokesperson for the temple administration, told ANI.
