In another attack on Hindu Temple in Australia, Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane on March 4 was vandalised by Khalistan extremes.
In an interview with The Australia Today, temple president Satinder Shukla said, “Temple priests and devotees called this morning and notified me about the vandalism on the boundary wall of our temple.” Sarah Gates, Director of Hindu Human Rights, said, “This latest hate crime is a pattern of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) globally, clearly attempting to terrorise Australian Hindus. Coupled with a barrage of propaganda, illegal signs, and cyberbullying, the organisation intends to present all-pervasive threats, fear, and intimidation” to The Australia Today.
In January, Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Australia’s Carrum Downs was vandalised with anti-Hindu graffiti.
The deed was discovered on January 16 when temple visitors arrived for “darshan” during the three-day “Thai Pongal” holiday observed by the Tamil Hindu minority in Australia, according to The Australia Today. Supporters of Khalistan attempted to mobilise a car rally for their referendum on the evening of January 15, 2023, in Melbourne. According to The Australia Today, they failed horribly as less than 200 individuals from the almost 60,000-strong Melbourne community showed up.
Indians in Australia demand strict actions against vandalisation of Hindu temples
The BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Australia’s Mill Park was defaced with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti on January 12, one week before the preceding event. According to Australia Today, the temple, situated in the neighbourhood of Mill Park, was vandalised by anti-India extremists who wrote anti-Indian inscriptions on the temple’s walls. The walls of the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne’s northern suburb, Mill Park, were defaced with the slogans “Hindustan Murdabad”.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Australia’s Melbourne vandalised by Khalistan supporters
Patel, a spectator, described how he noticed the temple’s defaced walls when he visited the location.“When I reached the temple today morning, all walls were coloured with graffiti of Khalistani hatred towards Hindus,” said Patel.
“I am angry, scared and dismayed by the blatant display of religious hatred towards Hindus”, he added.
The report by The Australia Today also suggests that the Khalistan group praised Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and termed him a martyr by writing it on the temple walls. Bhindranwale is a widely perceived supporter of creating a proposed Sikh-majority state of Khalistan.
The management of Melbourne’s International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple, also known as the Hare Krishna Temple, found the temple walls vandalised with anti-India graffiti.
The attack on ISKCON Temple came two days after Victorian multifaith leaders held an emergency meeting with Victorian Multicultural Commission, per the news report. The Victorian Multicultural Commission issued a statement condemning the vandalism of Hindu temples in Mill Park and Carrum Downes.
On February 5, Australian Hindus presented a list of demands to the Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, who visited a Durga Temple in Melbourne ahead of the resumption of the Parliament. The demands were in the wake of attacks on Indians by pro-Khalistani elements with terror links in Melbourne.
Australia: Hindus demand authorities to impose stringent laws on Khalistani extremists
The list includes, Carrying and using weapons must be banned for Sikhs, deporting every Nihang on a temporary visa, removing all Objectionable/Offensive posters from religious places and cars, and speedy justice for all victims of the January 29, 2023 incident in a time-bound manner, security for all victims of the January 29, 2023 incident, de-radicalise Sikh religious places, regular updates on the above matters.
At Durga Temple today, Victorian Hindus presented a List of Demands to Home Affairs Minister @ClareONeilMP in the wake of recent by attacks by Khalistanis with terror-links on Indians in Melbourne. The Australian Hindu Association awaits a prompt response from the Minister. pic.twitter.com/A4A2BJfvow
— Australian Hindu Media (@austhindu) February 5, 2023
Later, India condemned the vandalisation of Hindu temples in Australia, said the matter had been raised with the Australian government in Canberra and asked for expeditious investigation against the perpetrators. New Delhi is also firm that the authorities in Australia should not allow the “use of Australian territory for activities that would be detrimental to territorial integrity, security and national interest of India”.
‘Investigate, punish them’: India tells Australia on Khalistani violence targeting Indians
Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, had assured, “Our Consulate General in Australia has taken the matter with the local police. We have requested expeditious investigation action against the perpetrators and measures to prevent such incidents in future. The matter has also been taken up with the Australian Government in Canberra and New Delhi. And we are looking forward to the action that we have requested.”
(with inputs from ANI)
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