Third Hindu Temple Defaced In Australia With 'Hindustan Murdabad', 'Khalistan Zindabad' Slogans

So far, three temples have been targeted with Anti-India, Pro-Khalistan slogans. The third incident comes even as Australia assured an investigation into the matter.

New Delhi: In a third incident of temple defacing, another Hindu temple was vandalised in Australia allegedly by Khalistani supporters, with anti-India slogans. like "Hindustan Murdabad", and "Khalistan Zindabad." According to a tweet, an Iskon temple in Melbourne’s Albert Park was defaced with hateful slogans as seen in previous two instances. The third incident comes even as Australia assured an investigation into the matter.

"Graffiti sprayed on Iskon's Albert Park temple glorifying Bhindranwale, Khalistan; death to 'Hindustan' in build up to referendum," the tweet mentioned.

As per a report by The Australia Today, the incident was reported in the early hours of Monday morning when temple management found the walls of the revered temple vandalised with hateful graffiti

Bhakta Das, Director of Communication for ISKCON Temple told The Australia Today, “We are shocked and outraged with this blatant disregard for respect for the place of worship.

The Hindu community in Melbourne has been outraged by these incidents and they feel that Khalistan supporters have been emboldened as so far action has been taken against miscreants who commit such offences and also post videos on social media.

Previously, Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs was defaced with pro-Khalistan slogan within a week of anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti on the walls of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park.

Last week, Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell on Friday expressed shock at the vandalism of two Hindu temples in Melbourne and said that the matter is under investigation. "Our strong support for freedom of expression does not include hate speech or violence," he wrote.

"Like India, Australia is a proud, multicultural country. We have been shocked at the vandalism of two Hindu temples in Melbourne, & Australian authorities are investigating. Our strong support for freedom of expression does not include hate speech or violence," Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell tweeted.

The tweet came after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that India has urged Australia to investigate incidents of vandalisation of two temples near Melbourne and take action against the perpetrators.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the matter has been taken up with the Australian government both in Canberra and New Delhi.

"Recently a couple of temples have been vandalised in Australia. We condemned these incidents. Both are near Melbourne. We strongly condemned these actions," Bagchi said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

"These actions have also been publicly condemned by Australian leaders, community leaders and religious associations there," he said, replying to a question at his weekly media briefing.

He further stated that the Indian consulate general in Melbourne has taken up the matter with 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 both in Canberra and in New Delhi," the MEA spokesperson said.

"26 Jan Delhi D-day", "Khalistan Zindabad", and "Target Modi" were the slogans painted over the walls of Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, as per the photos shared by The Australia Today.

The walls of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melbourne’s northern suburb of Mill Park were defaced earlier. Photos posted by The Australia Today showed slogans of "Hindustan Murdabad", "Sant Bhindrawale Martyr", and "Modi Hitler" painted over the temple walls.

(With Agency Inputs)