VANDALS sprayed the swastika sign on the wall of a Hindu temple in Washington state on the eve of Maha Shivaratri fesival on Tuesday (February 17).
Unidentified miscreants also painted 'Get Out' on a wall of the temple in the Seattle Metropolitan area. It is one of the largest Hindu temples in the north west.
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Department is investigating last Saturday's (February 14) incident as malicious harassment.
On Monday (February 16), top county officials visited the temple.
“This kind of thing should not happen in the US. Who are you telling to get out? This is a nation of immigrants,” Nitya Niranjan, chairman of the board of trustees of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre, Bothell, Washington, said.
Niranjan said a few years ago some paint was sprayed on the outside wall of the temple, but the temple authorities did not bring it to the attention of the law enforcement authorities as nothing was written.
“We have no idea, who did it,” Niranjan said.
Skyview Junior High, a block away, was also tagged with a swastika symbol and the words, “Muslims Get Out”.
Building work on the temple, which is nearly 20 years old, had begun recently.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned the incident.
“The timing of this crime, occurring before a major Hindu festival, warrants special attention from law enforcement,” said Jay Kansara, director of Government Relations, Hindu American Foundation.
“We are encouraged by the ongoing thorough investigation of the Bothell City Police Department. HAF will continue to engage through the local community with city, state, and federal officials until the perpetrator is brought to justice,” Kansara said.
“Houses of worship are places where people should be able to be safe, at peace, and inspired to serve others,” said Padma Kuppa, HAF board member.
“Instead, the vandalism of the Hindu temple in Seattle and the arson of a mosque in Houston this past weekend incite fear and result in distrust among communities,” he said.
In January, the department of justice ordered all crime reporting forms to include the category anti-Hindu under the possible motives of hate crimes.
