The US Justice Division has reaffirmed its dedication to increasing its outreach to Hindu Individuals in gentle of the rising threats posed by Hinduphobia and hate crimes in opposition to the neighborhood.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Indian American member of the Home of Representatives, introduced this dedication following a latest briefing that included 4 different Indian American lawmakers—Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, and Shri Thanedar—collectively often called the ‘Samosa Caucus.’ The assembly was prompted by growing incidents of vandalism at temples throughout the nation.

“Final week’s assembly was an necessary start line for addressing the threats posed by Hinduphobia as the speed of hate crimes throughout the nation grows and as American Hindus and their locations of worship face harassment, vandalism, and even grave risks,” Krishnamoorthi mentioned.

“Whereas the Division of Justice has reaffirmed its dedication to increasing its outreach to the Hindu American neighborhood, important challenges stay as we proceed to work to guard Hindus, and each different American neighborhood, from hate crimes.”

The Sherawali Temple in Hayward, California, was vandalized in January, barely a month after the same incident on the Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, New Jersey. Anti-India graffiti and pro-Khalistan slogans had been spray-painted on the California temple, with related graffiti left behind by the miscreants within the second occasion.

The lawmakers additionally expressed concern over the unfold of misinformation about Hindus on social media platforms.

“We have now noticed an alarming enhance in incidents of vandalism at homes of worship throughout the nation, together with at Hindu mandirs (temples),” the 5 lawmakers wrote in a letter to the Justice Division in March.

“We, the undersigned Members of Congress of South Asian descent, write to request a briefing from the Division of Justice on the standing of the investigations regarding these crimes to higher perceive the present regulation enforcement coordination between native businesses, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Civil Rights Division,” the letter added.