The demand comes amid concerns over threats against Hindu and Indian American communities in the United States, with India also urging Washington to ensure the safety of its nationals. US lawmakers have urged the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice to investigate an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Illinois as a potential federal hate crime. In a letter sent on Friday to US Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, the House India Caucus called for a thorough investigation into the alleged plan to target the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Aurora, near Chicago. The lawmakers also asked federal authorities to determine whether anyone had encouraged, assisted or coordinated with the 19-year-old suspect, either online or offline. The demand comes amid concerns over threats against Hindu and Indian American communities in the United States, with India also urging Washington to ensure the safety of its nationals. Congressmen Rich McCormick and Ro Khanna, co-chairs of the House India Caucus, said the alleged plot raised broader concerns about hostility towards minority communities. “This plot did not emerge in isolation but reflects broader, troubling trends,” they said in the letter. The lawmakers called on federal authorities to pursue all charges supported by the evidence and share threat information with local law enforcement agencies and places of worship, including Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras. They also requested a briefing from the FBI and the Justice Department on threats facing Hindu and Indian Americans and the measures being taken to address them. The letter cited data indicating an increase in reported hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist communities in 2025. It also referred to a report by the Centre for the Study of Organised Hate, which found that anti-South Asian hate posts on X increased by around 240 per cent between January 2024 and June 2026. “Every American deserves to worship without fear. We urge you to treat this case, and the hate behind it, with the seriousness it demands,” McCormick and Khanna said. The alleged plot has also drawn concern from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which described the incident as a “matter of deep concern”. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that the incident highlighted what India considers an increase in hate crimes and racial discrimination against the Indian community in the US. “We have taken note of the action that the US law enforcement authorities have undertaken, once this incident happened. But, we call on the US side to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals in the United States,” Jaiswal said. The suspect was arrested in Palatine, near Chicago, over the alleged plan to attack the temple. According to the report, the plot was disrupted after the gun he was carrying jammed.