This Post Is Recently Updated on Dec 23, 2023 @ 23:27 pm by TBB Desk
A Hindu temple near San Jose, California, was defaced with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti, escalating tensions between New Delhi and Washington regarding the Khalistan issue. This incident occurred shortly after a US religious watchdog criticized the Modi government for not adequately protecting minorities in India. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern over the vandalism at the Swaminarayan temple and emphasized that extremist and separatist forces outside India should not be given any space.
Photos shared by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) revealed the temple walls marred with slogans praising Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a militant separatist icon, and containing derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. HAF described the incident as a hate crime, particularly due to the mention of Bhindranwale, known for targeting Hindus for murder, which could potentially create a fear of violence among temple goers.
HAF highlighted that California is quickly becoming a hub of anti-Hindu hate crimes inspired by Khalistan, similar to Canada. The organization pledged to raise this issue with the U.S. Justice Department and urged the U.S. to adopt a firmer stance against the Khalistan movement, which it labeled as “Pakistan-supported militancy.”
The incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Hindu temples and Indian diplomatic missions in the U.S. and Canada. These attacks have intensified amid public disagreements between New Delhi and Western countries following incidents like the assassination of Sikh militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar and a plot to kill separatist activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. While Washington and Ottawa defend the right to protest under free speech statutes, New Delhi argues that such activism has escalated to threats and violence against the broader Indian community, officials, and diplomats. Indian officials also claim that separatist Sikh militants are intimidating and silencing moderate Sikhs.
Navdeep Singh, an anti-Khalistan activist, shared a detailed social media thread with videos, photos, and messages outlining what he described as a nexus between the separatist organization Sikh for Justice, led by Pannun, and militants based in Pakistan with close ties to the Pakistani military. He alleged that propaganda videos and Khalistani referendum-related merchandise were being produced in Sialkot, Pakistan, with the support of the Pakistani military.
Key Points
- Temple Vandalism: Swaminarayan temple in California defaced with anti-India, pro-Khalistan graffiti.
- International Concern: S. Jaishankar condemns the incident, emphasizing the need to curb extremist forces.
- HAF’s Stance: Hindu American Foundation labels the incident as a hate crime, citing anti-Hindu sentiments.
- Broader Context: Increase in attacks on Hindu temples and Indian missions in the US and Canada.
- Alleged Khalistan Nexus: Claims of a connection between Sikh for Justice and Pakistan-supported militants.
