As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is about to begin his visit to India from March 9, his Government on Monday strongly criticised the recent incidents of vandalism at Hindu temples in Australia by alleged Khalistani supporters and said respect for Indian “sovereignty is unwavering”.

As the Adani group is embroiled in a controversy, Australia also said the business house is “still significant investor in Australia, its investment fully functional”.

“Adani investment is fully functioning in Australia. I have seen no reports from Australia of any effect on business. He is still a significant investor,” High Commissioner to New Delhi Barry O’Farrell said here.

Making these assertions, O’Farrell said so-called Khalistan referendum call has no legal standing in Australia. His observations came against the backdrop of a spate of acts of vandalism targeting Hindu temples there in the last two months with the latest incident reported from Brisbane on Saturday last week.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had flagged the issue during his talks with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong during his visit to Sydney last month. So far, four such incidents have taken place in the last two months.

Assuring India that the Australian police was actively pursuing the cases, O’Farrell said, “In relation to the incidents of vandalism that we have seen in Australia, Australians are horrified at any vandalism at any religious place of worship.”

“Respect for Indian sovereignty is unwavering. So-called Khalistan referendum call has no legal standing in Australia, he said, adding “most appalled to see temples being targeted, police are active and continue to be active to deal with those responsible,” the envoy said.

As regards the Australian Prime Minister’s visit, the envoy said Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Ahmedabad on March 9 to jointly see the fourth and final cricket test match between the two countries.

“They (Prime Ministers of Australia and India) are in Ahmedabad on the 1st day of 4th Test is indication of strong connection between Australia and India but I can tell citizens the real benefit of Prime Ministers visiting each other’s countries is that both countries win,” the envoy said.

Albanese will arrive in Ahmedabad on the evening of Holi, and O’Farrell said, “I expect him to take part in those celebrations”. One of the things that bind both countries is Cricket and it will be great to see the leaders of India and Australia on day one of the match in Ahmedabad, the envoy said.

Appalled at attack on Hindu temples by Khalistanis, respect for India’s sovereignty unwavering: Australia

Elaborating upon the Quad alliance between Australia, Japan, India, and the US, he said “Quad is not turning into Indo-Pacific NATO”. This reaction came in the backdrop of China terming the Quad grouping an “exclusionary bloc” aimed at containing China’s rise.  Jaishankar had hosted a Quad Foreign Ministers’ meet here last week attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

Moreover, Russian foreign Sergey Lavrov last week had criticized the Quad and AUKUS (Australia, UK, US) groupings after the Quad meeting here on Friday and claimed the two groupings were used by the West to drive a wedge between Russia and other countries.

Slamming the AUKUS and Quad, Lavrov accused the US and the West of seeking to drive a wedge between Russia and other countries by using these mechanisms. He was in the national Capital to participate in the G-20 Foreign Ministers’ conclave.

“This is unfortunately what is being tried by some other outside players in the context of so-called Indo-Pacific strategies, in the context of AUKUS, in the context of using Quad, not for economic purposes but trying to militarise Quad,” he said.

“The idea promoted by our American friends of ASEAN plus Quad is openly aimed at ruining the East Asia Summit. In other words, it would be East Asia Summit minus China and Russia. These are the questions I believe you should address more openly and honestly,” Lavrov said while participating in the Raisina Dialogue.