World News | Indians in Australia demand a crackdown on vandalism of Hindu temples

sydney [Australia]News.com.au, February 18: The Indian community in Australia has condemned the vandalism of Hindu temples in various parts of the country and demanded stern action against the perpetrators. In early January, alleged Kharistan supporters vandalized several Hindu temples in different parts of Australia.

“I hope the government will take proper action on this. We are Hindus and in our culture the meaning of Hinduism is a way of life and we respect every religion,” said an Indian in Sydney in an interview with ANI explain.

Read also | US shooting: Six people shot dead in Mississippi town after gunman opens fire at multiple locations; suspect arrested.

“Every time we hear something like this, it worries us. As a Hindu, Christian or Muslim, we are all one and we support each other. The government must address this issue and take action against those who create it. For a specific neighborhoods,” said another Indian in Sydney.

In an interview with ANI, another Indian-Australian told ANI that what was happening against the community in the country was worrying. “The government says we are a multicultural country, but they should take tough action against the wrongdoers and should show support for our temples,” said an Indian in Sydney, Australia.

Read also | Pakistan: Five Taliban terrorists were killed in an attack on the police chief’s office in Karachi.

In January, the Shri Shiva Vishnu temple in Carrum Downs, Australia, was vandalized with anti-Hindu graffiti.

The act came to the fore after temple devotees came to participate in the “darshan” event on January 16 during the three-day “Thai Pongal” festival celebrated by Australia’s Tamil Hindu community, Australia Today reported. . On the evening of January 15, 2023, Khalistan supporters attempted to rally support for their referendum with a car rally in Melbourne. However, they failed miserably as fewer than 200 people gathered in Melbourne’s community of nearly 60,000 people, according to Australia Today.

A week before the above incident, on January 12, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, Australia, was painted with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti. According to “Australia Today”, the temple was vandalized by anti-India elements, and anti-India slogans were written on the walls of the temple, which is located on the outskirts of Mill Park. Onlooker Patel shared how he witnessed the destroyed walls of the temple while visiting the site.

“When I arrived at the temple this morning, all the walls were covered in Khalistani hating Hindus graffiti,” Patel was quoted as saying by Australia Today.

He added: “I am outraged, scared and frustrated by the blatant display of religious hatred towards the peaceful Hindu community by Khalistan supporters.”

Administrators at Melbourne’s International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple, also known as the Hare Krishna Temple, have found the temple’s walls vandalized with anti-Hindu graffiti.

The attack on the ISKCON temple comes two days after an emergency meeting of Victorian multi-faith leaders and the Victorian Multicultural Council, according to news reports. The Victorian Multicultural Council issued a statement condemning the vandalism of the Hindu temples in Mill Park and Callum Downs.

India then condemned Australia’s vandalism of the Hindu temple and said it had raised the matter with the Australian government in Canberra and demanded a swift investigation into the perpetrators.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi assured: “Our Consulate General in Australia has referred the matter to the local police. We have requested prompt investigative action against the perpetrators and of course measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. This matter Discussions have also taken place with the Australian Government in Canberra and New Delhi. We look forward to the action we have requested.”

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell AO, also condemned the incidents and said Australia was appalled by the vandalism of two Hindu temples in Melbourne and authorities were investigating. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)