Greenwood, Indiana: A Hindu temple in a suburb of Indianapolis has been defaced with anti-India graffiti, sparking strong condemnation and a demand for strict action from the Indian government. The welcome sign at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Greenwood was vandalised with black spray paint, bearing the words “Hindustan, Modi Murdabad.”
This incident marks the fourth attack on a BAPS temple in the United States in less than a year. Hindu advocacy groups have been quick to link the desecration to a growing pattern of vandalism allegedly perpetrated by pro-Khalistan extremists. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has noted that at least a dozen Hindu temples nationwide have faced similar attacks since 2022. They and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) are urging US authorities to officially classify the incident as a hate crime.
The Consulate General of India in Chicago described the act as reprehensible and confirmed it has raised the matter with local law enforcement to ensure prompt action. India's Ministry of External Affairs also labelled the incident as despicable and called for strict measures to be taken against the culprits. Despite the hateful act, the BAPS community has responded with a message of unity and resolve. In a statement on social media, the temple’s public affairs team said the vandalism had only strengthened their community’s resolve to stand united against anti-religious behaviour. The temple held a special prayer service for peace, attended by local officials and leaders from various faith groups.