In yet another incident of vandalism against places of worship by alleged Khalistani supporters, a temple was targeted in Brisbane on Saturday. It was the fourth such act involving a temple in Australia in the last two months. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had flagged the issue to the political leadership there during his visit to Australia last month.
The latest incident saw the perpetrators defacing the walls of the temple with graffiti. It was noticed when devotees came for their morning prayers on Saturday morning as per reports from Australia.
Located in the Burbank suburb which is located in the south of Brisbane, the Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane was allegedly vandalised by "Khalistani supporters", The Australia Today reported.
A resident, Ramesh Kumar, who lives near the temple, told The Australia Today, “I am aware of what has happened at Melbourne Hindu Temples, but facing this hate is a very distressing experience.”
Temple president Satinder Shukla told The Australia Today, “Temple priest and devotees called this morning and notified me about the vandalism on the boundary wall of our temple.”
Shukla said they will make a detailed statement after they have a meeting of the management committee with the police authorities.
Earlier, another Hindu temple in Brisbane, Gayatri Mandir, received intimidating calls from Khalistan extremists based in Lahore, Pakistan.
Sarah L Gates, the Director of Hindu Human Rights, said the latest hate crime is a pattern of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) to terrorise Australian Hindus.
Gates told The Australia Today, “This latest hate crime is a pattern of SFJ globally, clearly attempting to terrorise Australian Hindus. Coupled with a barrage of propaganda, illegal signs, and cyber bullying, the organisation intends to present all-pervasive threats, fear, and intimidation.”
Gates later tweeted an image of the Hindu community fighting back after the attack on the temple.
Community members with the temple committee cleaned anti-Hindu hate-filled graffiti. “Hindustan Zindabad,” she tweeted with a picture.
“Khalistan supporters are terrorising the Australian Hindu community and making it a very traumatising experience to practice our religion and visit temples,” a long-time resident of the suburb said.
On January 23, the walls of the revered ISCKON temple in Melbourne’s Albert Park were vandalised with graffiti “Hindustan Murdabad.” On January 16, the historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria, was vandalised in a similar manner. On January 12, the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne was defaced by ‘anti-social elements’ with anti-India graffiti.
India has repeatedly condemned the vandalism against the Hindu temples in Australia and has raised the issue with the Australian Government.
During his visit to Australia last month, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and emphasised the need for vigilance against “radical activities” targeting the Indian community in Australia in the wake of vandalism of Hindu temples in the country by Khalistani supporters. “Noted the forward movement on our bilateral agenda. Emphasised the need for vigilance against radical activities targeting the Indian community,” Jaishankar had tweeted after his meeting with Wong in Sydney.
