Attacks On Hindu Temples In US: Congress Members Write To Justice Dept, Demand Probe Status Report

Five US Congress members have written to the US Department of Justice highlighting the increasing attacks on Hindu temples in the country. The letter highlighted “alarming increase in the number of vandalism at the houses of worship across the country” and the anxiety members of the community are facing because of these acts.

Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Shri Thanedar and Ami Bera, all Democrats, wrote the letter to the DOJ.

The US Congress members demanded to know the status of the probes concerning these crimes and asked the DOJ to update them regarding these cases within this week itself.

They said that attacks on mandirs across New York to California contributed to the increased collective anxiety amongst Hindu Americans.

“Leaders from these impacted communities have expressed there are unfortunately ‘no leads’ on suspects, leaving many to continue to live in fear and intimidation. Our communities remain concerned about law enforcement coordination regarding these bias-motivated crimes, and they are left wondering if there is appropriate federal oversight to ensure equal protection under the law,” the letter reads.

In January, miscreants painted pro-Khalistan messages on a temple in Hayward, California. A few weeks earlier, another temple in Newark had been vandalised with similar graffiti.

“Our communities remain concerned about law enforcement coordination regarding these bias-motivated crimes, and they are left wondering if there is appropriate federal oversight to ensure equal protection under the law,” the letter further adds.

The lawmakers highlighted that the frequency of these incidents raise concerns regarding potential connections and motives and said that it takes only a few organised acts of hate to spread fear across marginalised communities. It said that it is necessary to combat hatred against all ethnic, racial, religious, and cultural minorities in the United States.

“We therefore request that you provide us with an understanding of what the Department’s strategy is specifically concerning hate crimes targeting Hindus in the United States. Given the urgency of the situation, we ask that you provide us with a briefing no later than Thursday,” the letter said.