Another Hindu Temple Vandalized in Australia, Second Within a Week

A Hindu temple has been reportedly vandalized by Khalistan supporters in Victoria, Australia. This was the second such incident within a week. Devotees of the temple noticed anti-India graffiti as they came for ‘darshan’ during the three-day long “Thai Pongal” festival.

The Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria was vandalized on Monday, January 16. The anti-India graffiti was noticed by devotees when they came to the temple for ‘darshan’ as part of the three-day-long Thai Pongal festival which is celebrated by the Tamil Hindu community.

One of the long-time devotees of the temple said, “We are a Tamil minority group in Australia, a lot of us came as refugees to escape the religious persecution. This is my place of worship and it’s not acceptable to me that these Khalistan supporters are vandalizing it with their hate messages without any fear.”

Furthermore, the President of the Hindu Council of Australia’s Victoria chapter, Makrand Bhagwat, asked the wider community to show support and not tolerate this act of vandalism. On the other hand, Sachin Mahate from the Melbourne Hindu community called out the alleged Khalistan supporters who vandalized the temple and challenged them to “draw graffiti on the Victorian Parliament building rather than target peaceful Hindu communities’ religious places.”

This was the second such incident within a week. On January 12, the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne was defaced by anti-India graffiti and ‘anti-social elements’. At the time, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Australia said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by the anti-India graffiti at the gates of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, Melbourne, Australia by anti-social elements. The BAPS temple in Mill Park, like all temples of BAPS worldwide, is an abode of peace, harmony, equality, selfless service, and universal Hindu values.”

As of now, it is unclear what action is being taken against the alleged Khalistan supporters or whether the case is being investigated.

Vineet Washington