Gurdwara defaced with swastika graffiti in US

Washington, January 14

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In an apparent hate crime, a Sikh Gurdwara in the US state of California has been defaced with swastika graffiti.

Police officials took statements from the Granthi (priest) of Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib in Orangevale, California.

On Monday morning, people saw words “White Power” and a swastika graffitied onto the sign out front.

“I strongly condemn the racist graffiti spray painted at a Sikh house of worship in Orangevale,” Indian-American Congressman Dr Ami Bara said.

He said the California’s 7th congressional district is a community of diversity and inclusion, and the Sikh community is an integral part of it.

Dimple Kaur Bhullar from the Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib Sangat said, “We began services as of mid-December 2019, the weekend of January 10-12 we had our official Grand Opening with Bhai Sahib Harjinder Singh Ji Sri Nagarwale, without any problems. There was no negativity before this.”

In a statement, Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund, the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organisation, condemned the hate speech that defaced the Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara Sahib in Orangevale.

In an interview to local Sacramento Bee, Harbans Singh Sraon described the actions as “ignorant” and committed by someone who doesn’t know or care to learn anything about who they are.

“If they knew what Sikhism is, they wouldn’t do it.

“That person in my opinion was ignorant. I wouldn’t use any other words. Once they know us, they will love us. But it’s a matter of getting together,” Sraon said. — PTI