The Consulate General of India in New York has strongly condemned the vandalism of a temple in New York and said that it has taken up the matter with the US law enforcement authorities for prompt action against the culprits of this “heinous act”.
“The vandalism at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York is unacceptable,” the Indian Consulate said in a post on Monday.
Vandalism at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York is unacceptable; Consulate @indiainnewyork Is in touch with the community and has raised the matter with US law enforcement authorities for swift action against the perpetrators of this heinous act.…
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) September 16, 2024
It said the consulate “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.”
Melville is located in Suffolk County, Long Island, and is about 28 kilometres from the 16,000-seat Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a massive community event on September 22.
According to footage shared online, abusive words were sprayed on the road and signage outside the temple. A prayer meeting is expected to be held at the temple in the afternoon following the incident.
The Hindu American Foundation said in a post on X that the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security should investigate the attack on the temple, as Hindu institutions have recently received threats and a major Indian community gathering is scheduled to be held in nearby Nassau County this weekend.
“It is hard to comprehend the cowardice of those who attack a Hindu temple to express hatred for an elected leader. This attack must be seen in the context of recent threats to Hindu and Indian institutions,” Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation, said in a post on X.
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