New York, April 19 (IANS) In the latest attack on
Hindu houses of worship in the US, a temple has been vandalised in Texas
"horrifying" both Hindus and non-Hindus, who have offered to help the
temple clean the damage, media reported.
In the attack at the
North Texas Hindu Mandir in Lake Highlands suburb of Dallas, vandals
painted symbols of devil worship on the temple's door, media reports
said on Saturday.
The attackers left behind on a shed at the
temple the mark of Mara Salvatrucha, an international gang originating
among immigrants from the predominantly Catholic nation of El Salvador
and active in the US.
The 11CBS network in Dallas-Fort Worth area
reported that a temple board member, Krishna Singh, said mandir members
discovered the graffiti last Monday. "That was a big shock, really,"
the network quoted her as saying.
"It makes me sad inside," a
nine-year-old child, Gracie Reed, told 11CBS. "To me, it's really
horrifying because I don't know who would do this to a church," the
child said referring to the house of worship.
Dallas police have
sent detectives from their gang unit to investigate the incident,
according to WFAA, an ABC network affiliated local station.
While
the administration of President Barack Obama, who has criticised India
over religious tolerance, and Christian leaders have not reacted as of
Sunday to the Texas vandalism, non-Hindu neighbours have offered to help
the temple. WFAA reported that a clean-up effort was scheduled for
Sunday.
Ted Hoffman, who lives across from the temple, told
11CBS, "We all find it appalling" and the neighbours have offered to
help paint over the symbols.
The gesture of help from neighbours
was welcomed by Hindus. WFAA quoted the temple treasurers Karen Snorton
as saying she found the offer reassuring. "They've been here so that's a
positive thing that's come out of all of this."
In a statement, Universal Society of Hinduism president Rajan Zed thanked the neighbours for offering the temple help.
To
counter such attacks, Zed urged fellow Hindus to educate Americans
about Hinduism. "Basics of major world religions should be taught in
high schools of the country and first responders should be imparted
cultural competency training," he added.
The temple supports community charities like food banks for the poor and an organisation that helps victims of child abuse.
Snorton
told WFAA that MS-13 was spray-painted on one of the sheds. MS-13 is
the abbreviated name and tag or signature of Mara Salvatrucha.
According to 11CBS, "666" and an upside cross were painted on the temple door. They symbolise devil worship.
Some
Christian leaders, including a former candidate for the Republican
Party's presidential nomination, Pat Robertson, have called Hinduism
"demonic".
Robertson is a pastor who has a following of millions
in the US and abroad and his TV show, Club 700, is carried on Christian
Broadcasting Network, which says on its website that it operates in
India.
The attack is the latest in a series attacks on Hindu
places of worship. Two temples were vandalised in Washington State in
north-west US in February.
In August, a statue of Shiva at the
Vishwa Bhavan Hindu Mandir in Monroe in the state of Georgia was
desecrated with black paint. The local sheriff's office arrested two
people in connection with the attack.
Between July and October in
Loudon County in Virginia, police have documented 17 separate incidents
of anti-Hindu vandalism, the Hindu American Foundation said.
The attacks come amid anti-Hindu propaganda by Christian fundamentalist leaders.
Besides
Robertson, Christian pastor Franklin Graham, has denounced Hindus as
followers of a "false religion" and said that "none of their 9,000 gods
is going to lead me to salvation. We are fooling ourselves".
When
Zed was invited to say the opening invocation at start of an Idaho
state Senate session last month, some legislators protested.
Senator
Sheryl Nuxoll said she boycotted the invocation because she said she
believed the US is a Christian nation and "Hindu is a false faith with
false gods".
However, Catholic Church's leadership in Idaho state
criticised her and declared her denunciation of Hinduism "do not
represent the opinions or teachings of the Roman Catholic Church,
(Boise) Bishop Peter Christensen or even our Holy Father, Pope Francis,
who has been an outspoken supporter of ecumenical and inter-religious
dialogue."
(Photos from: WFAA)
What has pat Robertson to do with this? How many Americans know him. The attack is by hate group. The report says they are from El Salvador, a predominantly Catholic country. All Latin American is predominantly Catholic.
He may be trying to compare wiht attacks on churches in India. Are these two incidents same? No. This is done by a hate group and if they are caught they will be in jail for 10-15 years. But in India the ruling party believes in a religoius state and RSS is a semi army. such things are not here.
Now Indian media is controlled by RSS-BJP. It is a shame.