On March 8, the BAPS Temple in Chino Hills, near Los Angeles, was defaced with anti-Indian and anti-Modi graffiti. The temple is one of the largest Hindu temples in California and is the latest among several Hindu temples to have been vandalized over the past three years in the country. In September 2024, vandals defaced the BAPS temples in Melville, New York, and Sacramento.
“In the face of another Mandir desecration, this time in Chino Hills, CA, the Hindu community stands steadfast against hate,” wrote the BAPS Public Affairs page in a social media post after the incident. “Together with the community in Chino Hills and Southern California, we will never let hate take root.”
Hindu advocacy groups like the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA) also released statements on social media condemning the attacks on social media and urged law enforcement to take action. They also called on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate the string of anti-Hindu attacks in temples.
According to a list compiled by CoHNA, ten Hindu temples have been vandalized in the U.S. since 2022. Seven of them are in California.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a statement in response to media queries. Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the MEA said, “We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms. We call upon the local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts, and also ensure adequate security to places of worship.”
(The article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Free Press Journal and India Currents).
