'Hindus Go Back': BAPS Temple In Sacramento Vandalised Week After New York Desecration

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the Sacramento area of California was vandalized with anti-Hindu messages on Wednesday night, less than 10 days after a similar act of desecration occurred at the BAPS temple in New York.

Among the disturbing messages found on the walls of the temple were ‘Hindus Go Back,’ triggering concerns among the local Hindu community. BAPS Public Affairs took to X and said, “Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: “Hindus go back!” We stand united against hate with prayers for peace.”

‘No place for religious bigotry’

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, sheriff deputies responded to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, near Rancho Cordova, where the graffiti was discovered. Deputies also said that vandals had also cut water lines at the property.

Responding to the vandalism, Ami Bera, representing Sacramento County in the US House of Representatives posted on X, “There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected.”

Indian-American lawmaker Rohit Khanna said, “This type of hate against Hindu Americans and vandalism is appalling and morally wrong. The Department of Justice must investigate these hate crimes, and those responsible should be held fully accountable under the law.”

‘Immediate action’

Another Indian-American lawmaker Shri Thanedar condemned the incident and said that immediate action is needed from the US federal government. “BAPS Hindu temple in Sacramento, CA was vandalised overnight with anti Hindu slogans. Immediate action is need from the DOJ. The people responsible for such hate be identified and prosecuted,” he said in a post on X.

Hindu American Foundation, promoting human dignity, mutual respect, and pluralism thanked Beri for raising the issue of hate crime targeting a Hindu temple. “Thank you @RepBera. This vandalism is an anti-Hindu hate crime targeting a Hindu temple with messages conflating Hindus with the Govt of India and telling Hindus to ‘go home’,” posted Hindu American Foundation on X.

Before this, a similar incident of vandalism took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York on September 17. The Consulate General of India in New York had also condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, labelling it “unacceptable.” Earlier, several US lawmakers had condemned the incident and called for swift action against the vandals.