New York: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey have closed their four-year investigation into allegations of caste discrimination and worker exploitation at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey, BAPS North America said on Thursday.
The probe was launched following a civil lawsuit filed in May 2021 by six Indian workers. The lawsuit was filed on the same day FBI agents were seen conducting court-authorized activity at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in New Jersey.
BAPS North America stated that the conclusion affirms what the organisation has consistently maintained that the temple was built through the volunteer service of thousands of devotees, not through coercion or exploitation.
"We welcome the decision by the US DOJ and the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey to close their investigation of BAPS and the creation of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham," BAPS North America said in a statement.
The plaintiffs alleged they had been brought to the US under false pretense, promised well-paying jobs, and then subjected to grueling hours of manual labor while confined to temple grounds, according to a CNN report. The lawsuit sought class-action status on behalf of around 200 Indian nationals who reportedly shared similar experiences.
The lawsuit also accused the temple's leadership of exploiting India's caste system to target and coerce workers from the so-called "scheduled castes."
After the closure of the probe, the BAPS North America said, "The US Government's decision to end this investigation sends a clear and powerful message in support of what our organization has maintained from the outset: that BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardhamâ, a place of peace, service, and devotion, was built through the love, dedication, and volunteer service of thousands of devotees from all walks of life."
The temple organization called the four-year probe a "challenging period" for its fellowship even as it said it has emerged with renewed strength and deeper faith.
"The Hindu community in the United States represents a comparatively newer faith tradition in this country. Yet the fact that our community came together to create such a landmark is a testament to the values that make America great. BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham stands as an enduring symbol of how the community has become an integral part of the fabric of the United States," the statement read.
