New York: The Consulate General of India in New York has strongly condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, calling the act “unacceptable.” The consulate has urged US law enforcement to take swift action against those responsible for the incident, which is being treated as a hate crime.
In a statement on X, the Consulate General wrote, “The vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, is unacceptable; The Consulate @IndiainNewYork is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with U.S. law enforcement authorities for prompt action against the perpetrators of this heinous act.”
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha condemns desecration of temple in New York
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) condemned the desecration of the temple, noting that similar incidents have occurred at Hindu temples across North America.
Issuing a statement, BAPS said, “Today, on September 16, 2024, we are saddened that we must once again appeal for peace in the face of hate and intolerance. Last night, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was desecrated with messages of hatred. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Similar acts of desecration have occurred at various Hindu Mandirs across North America.”
The organisation emphasised its commitment to peace and religious harmony: “We strongly condemn these acts and pray for peace amongst all communities. Peace, respect, and harmony for all regardless of background or faith are the bedrock of religious freedom in the United States. We also offer our deepest prayers for those who perpetrated this crime to be released of their hatred and to see our common humanity.”
BAPS added that it is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities to support their investigation. The group also highlighted the community’s strong presence at the site, with support from local, state, and federal leaders. Among those present were U.S. Representatives Nick LaLota and Tom Suozzi, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, and New York State Assembly members Phil Ramos, Keith Brown, and Steve Stern, among others.
Community organizations, including the NAACP, American Jewish Committee, and several religious leaders, were also in attendance, expressing solidarity. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj offered prayers for peace and harmony in light of the incident.
Hindu American Foundation’s Appeal
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has called on the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the attack. HAF pointed to a recent video posted by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in which he threatened Hindu and Indian institutions. The foundation stated that the New York vandalism bears similarities to attacks on temples in California and Canada.
In a post on X, HAF said, “Gurpatwant Pannun, of ‘Sikhs for Justice,’ recently posted a video threatening Hindu and Indian institutions, including HAF, as the community event approaches. The vandalism is similar to that seen in attacks on temples in New York, California, and Canada & called out by @CongressmanRaja @RoKhanna @ShriThanedar @PramilaJayapal @BeraForCongress @shuvmajumdar and other political leaders.”
Previous Incidents of Vandalism
The incident in New York comes just months after the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, was vandalized. Canadian MP Chandra Arya expressed deep concern over the rise in hate-fueled attacks on Hindu-Canadian communities. In his post on X, Arya wrote, “The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalised again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other places in Canada are being vandalised with hateful graffiti.”
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