Sacramento

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California was vandalised on Wednesday with anti-Hindu messages. For the second time in a month, a Hindu temple has been vandalised in the country with the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York also desecrated in a similar way. 

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The messages plastered on the temple included phrases such as "Hindus go back", suggesting that Hindumisia was on the rise in the country. 

"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," the BAPS Public Affairs said in a post in X.

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According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, not only did the vandalisers deface the Hindu temple but they had also cut the water lines at the property.

After the desceration, the community leaders gathered for a prayer ceremony at the temple. The prayer was attended by California State Assembly Member Stephanie Nguyen, Mayor of Elk Grove Bobbie Singh-Allen, Vice Mayor for City of Rancho Cordova Siri Pulipati and Police Chief for City of Rancho Cordova Matthew Tamay among others. 

Watch | Gravitas: Hindu temple vandalised again in Canada

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Previous incident

On September 16, images and videos surfaced on social media, showing the BAPS temple in New York was defaced with extremists painting slogans such as 'F**k Modi' and ‘Modi is Terrorist’.

The Consulate General of India in New York condemned the vandalism in a strongly-worded statement. 

“The vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, is unacceptable; The Consulate General of India in New York is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with US law enforcement authorities for prompt action against the perpetrators of this heinous act," the Indian consulate said in a post on X.

Also read | At least 8 Hindu idols vandalised by miscreants in Bangladesh's Faridpur temple

US Congress leaders condemned the incident by calling it an act of "bigotry and hate" which was happening due to incendiary "rhetoric by national leaders".

After the incident, BAPS issued a statement, claiming that the act was 'aimed at inciting hatred against Hindus'. 

(With inputs from agencies)