Page 18 - The Indian EYE 011924

North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

18 JANUARY 19, 2024

Alarm bells as hate speech

and crimes on the rise across

US and Canada

Hindu Temple defaced in California; Extortion threats in Canada; and Pannun calls shutdown

of Ayodhya Airport ahead of Ram Temple consecration

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
n yet another shocking incident,
Sherawali temple in California’s
IHayward has been defaced with
pro-Khalistan graffiti.
The incident comes to light
weeks after the Swaminarayan tem-
ple in California’s Newark was also
defaced with anti-India graffiti.

The Hindu American Foun-
dation (HAF) in a post on X

shared a photo of the deface-
ment. “Another Bay Area Hin-
du temple attacked with pro-
Khalistan graffiti. The Vijay’s

Sherawali Temple in Hayward,
CA sustained a copycat deface-
ment just two weeks after the
Swaminarayan Mandir attack

and one week after a theft at
the Shiv Durga temple in the The California temple that was vandalized with anti-India graffiti this week (File photo)
same area. HAF is in touch the Newark Police Department to son for the temple administration. and assured a thorough investiga-
with temple leaders and in con- ensure that those responsible are “As you know, we are concerned tion.
Meanwhile in Canada, leaders
tact with the police,” HAF said held accountable,” the official han- about this. Extremists and separat- of the Hindu community in Surrey
ist forces outside India should not
dle of the US State Department for
in the post. the Bureau of South and Central get space. Our consulate has lodged will hold a public forum over the
Asian Affairs wrote on X. a complaint with the (US) govern- “current law and order situation” in
The HAF highlighted the im- “One of the devotees, who lives ment and the police there over the Lower Mainland, as reported
portance of installing security cam- close to the shrine, discovered an- whatever happened, and I believe by Global News. The event is orga-
eras and alarm systems, considering ti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in the matter is being inquired,” Jais- nized by the Vedic Hindu Cultural
the rising threat to the temples. “We black ink on an exterior wall of the hankar said in response to a query Society of British Columbia, after
condemn the vandalism of Shri Swa- building, and the local administra- about the incident. warnings by the Royal Canadian
minarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in tion was immediately informed,” Meanwhile, Newark police Mounted Police (RCMP) of an ex-
California. We welcome efforts by said Bhargav Raval, the spokesper- termed the incident a ‘targeted act’ Continued on next page... >>

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