Hindu temple defaced in California amid growing rift between India and US over Khalistan issue

A US religious watchdog censured the Modi government for not protecting minorities in India. Sikh separatists allegedly defaced a Hindu temple in California, escalating tensions between New Delhi and Washington. The Swaminarayan temple near San Jose was vandalized with anti-India graffiti, including slogans praising militant separatist icon Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Hindu American Foundation called for the incident to be investigated as a hate crime. They also urged the US to take a stronger stance against the Khalistan movement, which they described as Pakistan-supported militancy.