Hindu temple in Australia defaced with anti-India graffiti by Khalistan supporters: Report

Jan 12, 2023

A Hindu temple, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, in Australia's Melbourne was allegedly attacked by Khalistan supporters and defaced with anti-India graffiti, The Australia Today said in a report.

The walls of the prominent Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne's northern suburb of Mill Park were painted with "Hindustan Murdabad" which means down with India, the report said.

Condemning the attack, BAPS Swaminarayan temple said, "We are deeply saddened and shocked by these acts of vandalism and hate. We offer our prayers for peace and harmony and will provide a fuller statement in due course." (sic).

The report also suggests that the Khalistan group also heaped praise on Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale. 

"This vandalism is deeply distressing for Victoria's peaceful Hindu community, especially at this holy time," Evan Mulholland, Liberal MP for the Northern Metropolitan Region was quoted by The Australia Today as saying.