Sacramento: Days after the BAPS Mandir in New York was vandalized, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the Sacramento area of California was desecrated with anti-Hindu messages on the night of September 25. This incident occurred less than ten days after a similar act of vandalism took place in New York. The messages included phrases such as “Hindus go back,” prompting concerns among the local Hindu community. In response, the community expressed its commitment to standing united against hate.
“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 on X.
As per the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, near Rancho Cordova, where the graffiti was discovered. The deputies also reported that vandals had cut water lines at the property.
In response to the vandalism, Ami Bera, representing CA06 and 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.”
The Hindu American Foundation, which promotes human dignity, mutual respect, and pluralism, thanked Bera for addressing 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 Government of India and telling Hindus to ‘go home,'” the Hindu American Foundation posted on X.
