According to an agency report, police officers in Newark, California, confirmed that they had received a report of graffiti at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple on Friday morning.Images posted on social media showed the word ‘Khalistan‘ spray-painted on a signpost outside the temple, along with several other objectionable graffiti.
“I have seen the news. As you know, we are concerned about this. Extremists and separatist forces outside India should not get space. Our consulate has lodged a complaint with the United States government and the police there over whatever happened, and I believe the matter is being inquired,” the foreign minister said, speaking to news reporters on the margins of the third convocation of the Rashtriya Raksha University in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.
The Newark Police said any acts or threats of violence, property damage, harassment, intimidation, or other crimes motivated by hate or bias are considered very serious and given very high priority. The Consulate General of India in San Francisco strongly condemned the defacing of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple.
Talking about the arrest of Nikhil Gupta, who has been indicted by the United States for plotting to kill a Khalistan leader, the Union minister said India has provided consular access to him thrice. “Whenever an Indian citizen is arrested, we seek consular access for their care, which we have received thrice,” Jaishankar added.
Asked about the absence of the US and Canada from the list of partner countries for the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, Jaishankar said he would not put any political meaning to this.
“At the government level, it depends who we invite… The government of Gujarat can answer (over invitation to the countries). I would not put any political meaning,” the minister said. “My understanding is opposite, which is that in fact many counties are calling us to participate in Vibrant Gujarat. We ask them to talk to the government of Gujarat. We would like to support it because we would like to see maximum participants,” he said.
Watch ‘Extremists shouldn’t be given space..’: EAM Jaishankar strongly condemns anti-India graffiti on US Hindu temple
