The Indian consulate in New York has condemned the recent vandalism at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, calling it “unacceptable.” The consulate has brought the issue to the attention of U.S. law enforcement agencies and is urging them to take swift action against those responsible.
In a post on social media platform X, the consulate stated, “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 U.S. law enforcement authorities for prompt action against the perpetrators of this heinous act.”
Videos circulating online show that offensive language was spray-painted on the road and on signs outside the temple.
Melville is approximately 28 kilometers from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to speak at a major community event on September 22, as part of his visit to the United States.
The Hindu American Foundation has called on the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the vandalism, noting that it coincides with a large gathering of the Indian community in Nassau County this coming weekend. The foundation compared this incident to recent vandalism at temples in California and Canada.
In a statement, the Hindu American Foundation criticized the vandalism as “absolute cowardice” intended to “air hatred for an elected leader.” The foundation also pointed out that Gurpatwant Pannun of “Sikhs for Justice” had posted a video threatening Hindu and Indian institutions, including their organization, in the lead-up to the community event.
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha also condemned the vandalism, expressing their strong disapproval and praying for peace among all communities. The trust stated that it is cooperating with U.S. authorities to assist in the investigation of what it describes as a “hate crime.”