Friday, November 22, 2024

BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in New York Vandalized; Indian Consulate urges swift action

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

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

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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Preeta Vyas
Preeta Vyas
(न्यूजीलैंड निवासी लेखक/ पत्रकार प्रीता व्यास का रेडियो पर लंबी पारी के बाद प्रकाशन में भी कई दशक का योगदान। बच्चों के लिए लगभग दो सौ पुस्तकें प्रकाशित। पहली भारतीय लेखक जिन्होंने इंडोनेशियन भाषा और हिंदी में बाई लिंगुअल भाषा ज्ञान, व्याकरण की तीन पुस्तकें, इंडोनेशिया की लोक कथाएं, बाली की लोक कथाएं, बाली के मंदिरों के मिथक, एवं माओरी लोक कथाएं जैसी रचनाएँ प्रकाशित कीं ।) After working many years as a radio broadcaster, Journalist and Author, Preeta Vyas has come out with 200 books for children. She is the only writer of Indian origin who has written bilingual books in Indonesian and Hindi languages; Bali ki Lok Kathayen (folk stories of Bali); Bali ke Mandiron ka Mithak (Myths of Bali Temples); and Maori LOk Kathayen (Maori Folk Stories). She is based in New Zealand.)

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