Rep. Subramanyam condemns nationwide Hindu temple attacks

U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) recently condemned the growing number of attacks on Hindu temples nationwide, declaring that “hate has no place in our communities.”

Driving the news: The congressman highlighted several incidents at the House floor last Tuesday, including the desecration of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Greenwood, Indiana, where graffiti containing “a message of hate and intolerance against Hindus” was discovered overnight on Aug. 10. He also cited gunfire directed at the ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, where up to 30 bullets were fired at the building with devotees inside. There have been 11 attacks on Hindu temples in the U.S. since December 2023, with seven involving physical damage, according to the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA).

What he said: “These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a rise in violence and division in our country,” Subramanyam said. “It’s not just happening to temples, it happens to all places of worship.” The Virginia congressman urged increased security resources, saying every American “deserves the right to safely practice their faith without fear.” He also called for commitment to doing more to fight the rise in hate in the country and ensure the protection of communities.

Why this matters: The attacks occur amid rising anti-immigrant rhetoric as Hindu American communities expand rapidly. CoHNA, for its part, has criticized law enforcement for lacking “visible efforts” to address Hinduphobia despite attacks on houses of worship, “even those founded by Hindus from the Caribbean and those born and brought up in the U.S.” The targeting of Hindu temples adds to concerns about broader anti-Asian sentiment, as these attacks occur alongside documented increases in hate incidents against many AAPI communities in recent years.

Subramanyam has pledged to continue working with colleagues “on both sides of the aisle” to combat rising hate.