External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that an inquiry is underway over the defacing of a Hindu temple incident in the US, saying that extremists and separatists should not be given space.
"I have seen it. Extremists, separatists and such forces should not be given space. Our Consulate there complained to the government and the police and an inquiry is underway," the minister said over the defacing of Swami Narayan temple in Newark.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco had earlier strongly condemned the incident in a post on X. "This incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter," it said in the post.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vinod Bansal has termed the fact that the incident took place in the US "unfortunate" and called for strict actions against those involved in the act.
"It is unfortunate that in a country like America, such incidents are happening. The government should take strict action against those who are fabricating anti-India tactics every day... The governments of India and the US should take this seriously, and should ensure strict action against those who are behind this..." Bansal told news agency ANI.