India Post News Service
CHICAGO: Indians across the world globally are hugely upset over reports ofthe fifth vandalizing of Swindon Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre in South West England since May. The temple seeks to meet the spiritual needs of about 20,000 Indians of the area.
Reports suggest that the break-in resulted in desecrating of deities, vandalizing of sacred altar and rooms, stealing of cash worth thousands of pounds and artifacts, damaging of doors, etc.; plunging the Indian community in a state of anguish, which now feels targeted.
Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism in a statement, said that it was appalling for the worldwide Hindus to hear about such incidents happening to a house of worship; thus reportedly causing heartbreak to the hard-working, harmonious and peaceful area Hindu community by receiving such signals of hatred and intimidation.
He urged United Kingdom Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick; South West Councils Chief Executive Bryony Houlden, Wiltshire Council Leader Richard Clewer, and Swindon Mayor Garry Perkins to take this issue seriously and urgently and launch swift action to put an end to such crimes and make sure that such incidents did not happen in the future.
Adequate security measures should be in place to protect the Hindu population and Hindu temples in United Kingdom; and Jenrick, Houlden, Clewer and Perkins should immediately visit the vandalized temple and meet the Hindu community in Swindon and surrounding areas to reassure them
As an interfaith gesture; Church of England Bristol Bishop Vivienne Faull, Roman Catholic Clifton Bishop Declan Lang and area leaders of other religions should strongly condemn this vandalizing act at a place of worship and also visit the affected temple to show their solidarity with Hindus.
According to reports, Swindon Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre, run by Swindon Hindu Temple Trust, undertakes various religious, social, community, cultural, interfaith and charitable activities. Its vision includes “Establish Swindon as a Cultural destination”.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.
