India Post News Service
In Hayward, California, the Sherawali Temple on Christmas Day became the latest victim of pro-Khalistan graffiti, mirroring a similar incident at the Swaminarayan temple in Newark. In a post shared on X, the Hindu American Foundation stated, “#Breaking: Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-#Khalistan graffiti. The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and in contact with @AlamedaPD & @CivilRights.”
The temple is located at 20789 Garden Avenue, the graffiti spray painted with black ink targeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and eulogized Khalistan. The temple management said that it is a hate crime and is in touch with the police department. “We are a non-violent peaceful community,” said Chand, noting that the temple’s congregants are mostly Indian immigrants from Fiji.
“This incident is shockingly intimidating for American Hindus who are facing a challenging and unsettling situation with Hate Crimes. Time for us to unite, strategize, plan and execute with action! Americans4Hindus is empowering our community Politically to have a strong voice to Proactively combat Hinduphobia “, said Dr Romesh Japra, Founder and Chairman Americans4Hindus.
Mihir Meghani, co-founder of HAF, had told CBS News that the Indian-American community in the Bay Area is growing, and these political issues are now becoming a part of the division here.
Fremont Hindu temple, Shiv Durga temple, Ashtalakshmi temple and few more have been raided by burglars who stole a donation box from the premises, leaving the Indian community in a state of shock.
