Daijiworld Media Network - Chicago
Chicago, Oct 20: US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has urged federal authorities to strengthen efforts against domestic violent extremism and address intelligence gaps following the foiling of an alleged neo-Nazi plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, near Chicago, where he and his family were worshipping.
Krishnamoorthi stressed that minority communities should not have to depend on luck for their safety, calling for stronger preventive measures against hate crimes and targeted violence.
A 19-year-old, identified as Alexandros Paporakis, was arrested for allegedly making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing a weapon in connection with a suspected plan to carry out a mass shooting at the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora.
Speaking to reporters, Krishnamoorthi said he and his family would continue visiting the temple and practising their faith despite the alleged threat.
“We're going to go back. We're going to go back over and over again,” he said, adding that worshippers should not be intimidated into changing their religious beliefs or practices.
He emphasised that every American should be free to practise their religion, regardless of faith or ethnic background, and called for unity against hatred targeting Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, Christians and other communities.
Krishnamoorthi also raised concerns about possible intelligence failures, saying warning signs may have been overlooked because federal agencies were not devoting sufficient resources to tackling domestic extremism.
He pointed to reports that the suspect had allegedly been planning the attack for nearly two years and said the potential tragedy was averted after several developments, including the suspect's firearm reportedly malfunctioning and his co-workers alerting police about his intentions.
“We should not have to rely on luck,” he said, warning that inadequate attention to domestic violent extremism could allow similar plots to go undetected.
The Congressman also called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to collect more detailed data on hate crimes and alleged terrorist plots targeting specific minority communities. He argued that tracking incidents by subgroup would help authorities identify patterns and develop more effective preventive measures.
Krishnamoorthi expressed disappointment that he had not received any outreach from the White House or senior administration officials following the incident. He also criticised what he described as rhetoric contributing to anti-Indian sentiment.
He urged political leaders across party lines to unite against discrimination and targeted violence.
In a post on X, Krishnamoorthi thanked those who alerted law enforcement and helped prevent a possible tragedy. He also commended the officers who intervened.
Meanwhile, US India Caucus co-chairs Ro Khanna and Rich McCormick condemned the alleged plot and urged the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate it as a potential federal hate crime. They also called for investigators to determine whether anyone had encouraged, assisted or coordinated with the accused, either online or offline.
India has also expressed concern over the incident. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the alleged plot highlighted growing concerns over hate crimes and racial discrimination against Indian communities in the United States.