Newark: A Hindu temple complex in Newark, California, United States of America, was attacked by pro-Khalistani elements, who wrote anti-India slogans on its walls and damaged its property. The incident, which took place on December 22, 2023, came to light when the news agency ANI shared the pictures of the vandalized temple on social media. The temple belongs to the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan sect, which has a large number of followers in the US and India.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco strongly condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the Hindu community in the US. “We strongly condemn the defacing of the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, California with anti-India graffiti,” the consulate said in a statement. “This incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for a prompt investigation and prompt action by the US authorities against those responsible for the sabotage.”
The Newark Police Department also assured that they are investigating the incident and will take appropriate action against the culprits. “We are aware of the vandalism at the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple and are actively investigating it. We take such incidents very seriously and will not tolerate any hate crimes in our city,” the police said in a tweet.
The attack on the Hindu temple is not an isolated incident, but part of a pattern of violence and intimidation by pro-Khalistani groups, who support the creation of a separate state of Khalistan in India’s Punjab region. In the past, such groups have targeted Hindu temples, Indian diplomats, and Sikh leaders who oppose their ideology in the US and Canada. Recently, a Hindu temple in Surrey, Canada, was vandalized by extremists at midnight, who broke the idols and windows of the temple.
