Washington
Indian-American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam strongly condemned recent attacks on Hindu temples in the United States, calling them part of a troubling rise in violence against religious spaces. Speaking in the House of Representatives, he said such “hateful” acts were not isolated but reflected broader division across the country.
Subramanyam pointed to incidents at the BAPS Sri Swaminarayan Mandir in Indiana and the Shri Radha Krishna Temple in Utah, stressing that “sacred spaces” for faith communities should never face vandalism or desecration. “Every American deserves the right to practice their faith safely, without fear,” he said.
He urged greater resources for security at places of worship and pledged bipartisan cooperation to counter hate. “We must ensure our communities are protected,” he added.
Several temples have faced attacks in recent months. In August, anti-India graffiti defaced the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana. In July, gunshots were fired at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Utah while devotees were present. On August 28, burglars looted the donation box and ornaments at a temple in Santa Clara. Earlier, in March, a temple in Chino Hills, California, was vandalized with anti-India slogans.
US-based Hindu advocacy groups welcomed the Congressman’s remarks. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and Hindu ACTion said American Hindus were deeply hurt by the attacks and urged more lawmakers to raise their voices.
“When places of worship are attacked, it robs people of spiritual solace,” CoHNA said, praising Subramanyam for taking a stand.
