BAPS Mandir desecrated with anti-Hindu, anti-India graffiti in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California, United States 
24 September, 2024
Case Summary
On the night of September 25th, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was vandalized with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti, raising concerns within the local Hindu community. It was reported that Khalistani extremists were responsible for this hate crime. Hateful slogans such as “Hindus go back,” “Modi=Hitler,” and “Modi Hindu Go Back” were spray-painted on the temple’s walls. The Hindu community strongly condemned the attack and urged for swift action against those involved. BAPS, the organization that manages the temple, released an official statement expressing sadness over the incident and reiterating their commitment to stand against hate. They also announced they were working with local law enforcement authorities to address the situation.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under the prime category of 'Attack on Hindu religious symbols' of the tracker. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attack on Temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. Despite understanding that Hindu temples are centres of worship and sanctity, the Khalistani perpetrators defaced the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California with anti-Hindu and anti-India slogans. This act of defacement not only desecrates a place of worship but also serves as a provocative statement against the broader Hindu community. Here, along with anti-Hindu slogans, the perpetrators also defaced the temple wall with anti-India and anti-Modi slogans. Here, one can argue that since the slogans were against the country and its Prime Minister in particular, the crime should not be documented in the Hindu hate tracker. However, the truth remains that the attack on Hindu temples is in itself reflective of the hostility Khalistani separatists nurture against Hindus. It is pertinent to note that Khalistanis view India as a Hindu collectivity which forms a basis of their hostility and separatism. Their hostility is based on the demand for a separate state owing to the fact that India is a Hindu collectivity. Therefore, the anti-India slogans with which the Khalistanis defaced the temple is also a manifestation of their hostility towards Hindus and India as a Hindu collectivity. For that reason, this crime, overall, is a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Sikh Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
