Mon Sep 09 13:55:30 UTC 2024: ## Hate Crimes Against Hindus and Sikhs in California Rise Amid Political Tensions
**Newark, CA** – A wave of hate crimes against both Hindus and Sikhs is sweeping California, with a record eight anti-Hindu hate crimes reported in 2023, according to data from the California Department of Justice. This surge coincides with an increase in anti-Sikh hate crimes, with six incidents reported, the highest number since 2014.
The incidents, including vandalism at Hindu temples and the dissemination of separatist slogans targeting Sikh communities, have fueled anxieties within both communities. While some Hindus, like Kiran Thakkar, co-founder of the Newark Shri Swaminarayan Temple, prefer to downplay the issue, others, like Pushpita Prasad of the Coalition of Hindus of North America, see it as a manifestation of growing “Hinduphobia.”
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing debate surrounding the Sikh separatist movement in India, with some Hindu groups accusing pro-Khalistan activists of orchestrating the violence. However, national and local Sikh groups strongly dispute this claim, emphasizing the long history of Sikhs in California and warning against the potential for foreign interference in the state’s affairs.
This tension is highlighted by the recent political battles surrounding bills aimed at combatting transnational repression, which seek to protect American citizens from harassment by foreign governments. While some Sikh groups supported the bill, Hindu groups opposed it, citing concerns over its potential to be used against the Sikh separatist movement.
Amidst these growing anxieties, California’s new “CA vs. Hate” hotline has documented a significant number of anti-Hindu bias incidents, highlighting a need for increased awareness and support for both Hindu and Sikh communities in California.
While law enforcement authorities have taken steps to address these hate crimes, including providing security resources to affected temples, some experts argue that more needs to be done to prevent further escalation. “There needs to be other actors, not necessarily government agencies, but other kinds of nonprofit or civil rights groups who are willing to invest in this and make sense of what’s happening so that it doesn’t become such a deeply partisan, polarizing issue,” said Sangay Mishra, associate professor of political science at Drew University.
The events in California underscore the complex and evolving challenges facing both Hindu and Sikh communities in the US, where anxieties over political tensions in India and rising hate crimes are creating a climate of fear and uncertainty.
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