Former temple worker gains freedom, seeks justice in US
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Rajeev Y., a stone carver from Rajasthan, India, experienced harsh conditions while working at a BAPS temple construction site in Robbinsville, New Jersey, eight years ago.
He and many other Indian workers, largely from the Dalit community, allege they were subjected to forced labor and inadequate pay. They filed a class action lawsuit against the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a Hindu sect that recently made headlines in France due to a strike at the Eiffel Tower.
Rajeev recounts how his and his coworkers’ passports were confiscated upon arrival in the US, restricting their movement and creating a prison-like atmosphere. The workers performed stonework for long hours, receiving minimal cash wages with the majority deposited into Indian accounts. A fellow worker, Mohan Lal, died on site after receiving inadequate medical care, prompting increased scrutiny from US authorities and ultimately an FBI raid that rescued over 100 workers.
Though a criminal case initiated after the raid was later dropped by the US Department of Justice, a civil wage theft case remains active. Many workers have since returned to India, but Rajeev and a few others continue to pursue justice in the US, refusing to work with BAPS again despite the financial hardship. They hope to secure fair compensation and recognition of the abuses they endured.
