In a attainable hate crime, a bunch of six unidentified individuals destroyed a handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi with a hammer at a Hindu temple right here earlier this month.
India on Friday strongly condemned the “disgusting action” and took up the matter with US authorities to make sure that these chargeable for the act are held accountable.
The New York City Police Department mentioned in a press release PTI mentioned that on 16 August at round 01.30, police had acquired data that “a group of six unidentified male persons” had broken and smashed a non secular idol with a “hammer” in entrance of the Tulsi Temple positioned at 103-26 111 Street.
“The male man then fled to Liberty Avenue and rammed into two vehicles, a white Mercedes Benz and a dark Toyota Camry, with a possible taxi/livery sticker on the rear passenger window,” it mentioned, including that the miscreant was about his age. have been of 25 to 30 years.
The NYPD has sought the general public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of the miscreants and urged anybody with data associated to the incident to name its Crime Stoppers hotline or submit their recommendations on the Crime Stoppers web site.
“In an act that has angered the entire Queens community and peace-loving people around the world, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside Shri Tulsi Temple was vandalized for the second time,” Jennifer Rajkumar, Lady of the New York State Assembly, mentioned in a press release on Thursday. “This time, the idol was completely destroyed and painted with obscene names. Vandals also carved the temple grounds and 111th Street asphalt,” mentioned the Indian-American lawmaker.
According to cbsnews.com, surveillance video exhibits a person thrashing a Gandhi statue with a hammer on Tuesday, then beheading it and knocking it down.
A couple of minutes later, a bunch of six folks stomp on it and take turns hitting the statue with hammers earlier than it may be taken down.
“It is very painful to see him following us like this,” Lakhram Maharaj, the founding father of the Shri Tulsi Mandir in South Richmond Hill, mentioned within the report.
Maharaj got here to know that the Gandhi statue had became rubble on Wednesday morning.
The phrases “dog” and “Gandpi dog” have been spray painted in entrance of the temple and on the backside of the block.
Maharaj says that many individuals locally at the moment are afraid to go to the temple.
“I can’t show the congregation that I’m worried because if I show them that I’m worried and I’m not strong, how will they be strong?” The report quoted him as saying. The report mentioned that the temple authorities couldn’t afford to interchange the Gandhi statue, because it was handcrafted and price round US$4,000.
“I want to know why they did this,” mentioned Maharaj.
Investigating officers mentioned that the identical statue of Gandhi was vandalized two weeks in the past.
“When Gandhi’s statue was vandalized, that was really against all our beliefs and it’s a very disturbing thing for the community,” mentioned the prince, the primary South Asian girl to be elected to the New York State Assembly.
Rajkumar, who represents the Queens area, mentioned in a press release that he had spoken to Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell and 106th Precinct Commanding Officer Captain Jerome Bachi and “they are taking this incident seriously and as a potential hate crime.” I’m investigating it”.
“I call for the speedy arrest, charge and trial of the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law,” she mentioned.
Since the concentrating on of the Gandhi statue and the Hindu temple, Rajkummar mentioned he has acquired help from folks not solely in Queens, however all over the world.
“I’ve spoken to authorities leaders throughout the nation. All are dedicated to redouble our efforts to fight anti-Hindu hatred. We at all times knew that defeating hatred wouldn’t be completed in a day, every week or perhaps a 12 months.
“We are committed to this fight for the long term, and will use the Hindu principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and satyagraha (spirit power) that guided Gandhi himself and later the great American civil rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. ” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Consulate General of India in New York mentioned in a press release on Friday that it “strongly condemns the demolition of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside a temple in Queens, New York. We have taken up the matter with the US authorities”. and demanded a radical investigation in order that these chargeable for such heinous actions may be held accountable.Non-profit group Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol mentioned that it’s deeply saddened by the information of the demolition of Tulsi temple.
“This is not the first time something like this has happened, and it must be stopped. We must work together to send a clear message that hate crimes against any religion will not be tolerated,” it mentioned.
Ankur Vaidya, president of the expatriate group Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), condemned the “cowardly act”, saying, “We ask the mayor’s office and the NYPD to investigate this malicious act as a hate crime and bring these perpetrators to justice.” It is evident that those that perpetuate such a barbarism may have a need and intent to create extra malice to create a detrimental sensation.” He mentioned the incident was an act of hatred and aggression and has been repeated extra occasions this 12 months than within the historical past of the town.
In February, the 8-foot-tall Gandhi statue in Manhattan’s Union Square was defaced by unidentified individuals.
In December 2020, Khalistani-supporters desecrated a Gandhi statue in Washington, DC in entrance of the Indian embassy.
The then White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, described the incident as “horrific”.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
