Swaminarayan temple defaced
The SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Cedar Boulevard in Newark, CA, was found vandalized early morning Friday 22, with anti-Indian Prime Minister Modi and pro-Khalistan graffiti. The Newark police are investigating the defacement as a potential hate crime, saying the incident appeared to be a targeted act, according to a Mercury News report.
Calling such incidents “senseless,” Newark police captain Jonathan Arguello said such acts would not be tolerated in Newark and would be investigated thoroughly, reports ANI.
The Hindu temple’s external walls and its entry signboard were found defaced on Friday, but temple authorities believe the incident happened on Thursday, reported The Times of India. According to the report, a temple spokesperson expressed shock at the incident.
The Context
This incident happened against the backdrop of increasing diplomatic tensions between the Indian government and the U.S. and Canadian administrations over the issue of pro-Khalistani activists. In June, Canada-based Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that there was credible evidence linking Nijjar’s death with the Indian government, which had declared Nijjar a terrorist in 2020.
Following Nijjar’s death, diplomatic relations between India and Canada soured, and the after-effects were felt in the U.S. too; Khalistani separatists attempted to set fire to the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and wrote pro-Khalistani graffiti on its walls in early July. In September, Khalistani protestors took to the streets in San Jose, to protest Nijjar’s killing.
Then, in November, the US Attorney for New York charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta for attempting to hire a hitman to murder Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the U.S. While American authorities successfully foiled Gupta’s bid, the investigation stated that Gupta was acting under the instructions of an “Indian government employee,” as reported by NDTV.
“Alarming and Concerning”
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco issued a statement via X (formerly Twitter), condemning the incident and saying it had asked local authorities to act promptly. “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.
Saratoga Democrat and U.S. House hopeful (CA-16), Rishi Kumar, said the vandalization was “alarming and concerning” and that the vandals must be brought to book. In a statement on his social media X handle, Kumar said, “The recent act of vandalism at the Swaminarayan Temple in Newark is not just an attack on a place of worship; it is an assault on the very principles of peace, respect, and community that we hold dear.”
Another Congressional candidate for CA District 17, Ritesh Tandon, also took to X, asking for the hatred to end. “It is evident that a small number of individuals are tarnishing the reputation of the entire Punjabi community. The time has come to put an end to all such hatred and for everyone to live in peace,” he said in his statement.
In a statement on social media, the Hindu American Foundation demanded that the incident 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 foundation said on X.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.