A prayer meeting is scheduled at the temple in the afternoon as part of the community’s response to this distressing incident. Local authorities are currently investigating, and efforts are underway to bring the perpetrators to justice
The BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, was vandalized on Monday, sparking strong condemnation from the Indian consulate in New York. The consulate labeled the act “unacceptable” and is actively engaging with U.S. law enforcement authorities to ensure swift justice.
Located in Suffolk County, about 28 kilometers from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a large community gathering on September 22, the temple was defaced with offensive graffiti. The incident has raised concerns within the local Indian-American community, especially in light of the upcoming event.
Executive Director Suhag Shukla emphasized, “It is hard to comprehend the absolute cowardice of those who would attack a Hindu temple to air hatred for an elected leader. This attack must be viewed in the context of the broader threat landscape facing Hindu and Indian communities in the U.S.”
The Indian consulate took to social media platform X to express its dismay, stating, “The vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, is unacceptable. The Consulate @IndiainNewYork 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.”
In response, the Hindu American Foundation has called on the U.S. Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the temple attack thoroughly. The foundation highlighted recent threats against Hindu and Indian institutions, particularly in the run-up to the community event in Nassau County.
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