India Seeks Quick Action From US After Vandalisation Of Hindu Temple In California With Pro-Khalistan Slogans

A Hindu temple in California was vandalised with pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans.

US-based rights advocacy group Hindu American Foundation (HAF) shared the images of the vandalisation of the temple on social media platform X.

The images depicted anti-India, pro-Khalistan and anti-Prime Minister Narendra Modi messages scrawled across various walls of the temple.

The organisation said that it has informed the local police and is insisting that the incident should be investigated as a hate crime.

"The mention of the Khalistan terrorist kingpin Bhindranwale, who targeted Hindus for murder, is specifically meant to traumatize temple goers and create a fear of violence—meeting the CA definition of a hate crime," the HAF said.

India vehemently condemned the incident and said it has sought quick action.

"We strongly condemn the defacing of SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Newark, California with anti-India graffiti. 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," Indian Embassy said on X (formerly Twitter).

This isn't the first instance of a Hindu temple coming under attack, with similar events previously taking place in the US and neighboring Canada.

India has earlier expressed concern over escalating activities by Khalistan supporters and clamped down on organisations and individuals trying to stoke separatist sentiment in different countries.