US Congressman condemns rising attacks on Hindu Temples: “Hate Has No Place Here”

Indian-American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has denounced a series of recent attacks on Hindu temples across the United States, describing them as part of a troubling surge in hate and division affecting faith communities nationwide. Speaking on the House Floor, he pointed to incidents at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Indiana and the ISKCON Shri Radha Krishna Temple in Utah, calling the vandalism of sacred spaces “not isolated” but reflective of a broader national trend.

“These acts of desecration are part of a rise in violence and division in our country,” Subramanyam said. He stressed the urgent need for greater resources and security funding for places of worship, while urging law enforcement, leaders, and communities to work together to combat the spread of hate. “Every American deserves the right to practise their faith without fear,” he added.

In August, the BAPS Mandir in Greenwood, Indiana, was vandalised—marking the fourth anti-Hindu attack on US temples in the past year. BAPS called it a hate crime and reaffirmed its commitment to stand united against bigotry. In July, Utah’s ISKCON temple, world-famous for its Holi Festival, was attacked in a suspected hate crime when 20–30 bullets were fired at the building, causing extensive damage while devotees were present.

The recent attacks on Hindu temples in the US occurred as follows: the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Greenwood, Indiana, was vandalised overnight on August 10, 2025, with anti-India graffiti in what marks the fourth such incident targeting temples in under a year. The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, suffered multiple gunfire attacks between June 18 and June 20, 2025, with over 20 to 30 bullets fired over several nights, causing significant damage while devotees were present.

The Greenwood, Indiana, attack involved anti-India and anti-Narendra Modi graffiti and has been linked by multiple advocacy and diaspora groups to pro-Khalistan extremist activity. A pattern of hate crimes linked to political or sectarian motivations, particularly those aligned with anti-India, separatist narratives, is identified as a driving factor in many of these temple attacks.

However, b oth incidents were quickly addressed by authorities—local law enforcement began investigations immediately after both the vandalism in Indiana and the shootings in Utah. The Indian Consulates in Chicago and San Francisco publicly condemned the attacks, reached out to temple communities, and held meetings with local leaders to ensure vigilance and solidarity.

The Indian-American community and Hindu advocacy groups expressed deep concern, describing the incidents as hate crimes and a disturbing trend of anti-Hindu attacks. Responses featured social media posts affirming resilience, calls for stronger action by US authorities, prayer meetings for peace, and advocacy for the protection of religious sites. The broader diaspora emphasised unity, condemned hate, and called for both community vigilance and government intervention to curb such hate crimes.