A third Hindu temple in Melbourne has been vandalised within two weeks in a recent spate of attacks on Hindu places of worship by Khalistan supporters.
The latest incident occurred at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple, also known as the Hare Krishna Temple, in Melbourne’s Albert Park.
The temple, which is a well-known centre of the Bhakti Yoga Movement in Melbourne, was vandalised with graffiti that included the phrase “Hindustan Murdabad” (meaning “Death to Hindustan” or India).
The incidents have caused great distress and concern among the Hindu community and other minority groups in the area.
The authorities are actively investigating these incidents and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
The government has also stressed that racism and religious hatred will not be tolerated in the state of Victoria and that those responsible will be brought to justice.
The Director of Communication for ISKCON Temple, Bhakta Das, expressed shock and outrage at the desecration of the Hindu place of worship.
“We are shocked and outraged with this blatant disregard for respect for the place of worship,” Das was quoted by The Australia Today as saying.
The temple authorities have filed a complaint with the police and CCTV footage has been provided to them.
Other members of the Hindu community have also expressed frustration with the lack of action taken by Victoria Police against these incidents of hate.
Shivesh Pandey, an IT consultant and devotee of ISKCON temple, said “In the last two weeks, Victoria Police has failed to take any decisive action against the people who are running their hate-filled agenda against the peaceful Hindu community.”
He further added, “Every Hindu around me is so frustrated with authorities, you tell me what are we supposed to do?”
“Shall we come out on the streets and then only the Victorian government and Victoria Police will wake up from their slumber,” Pandey said.
Earlier, the Indian-Australian community was dismayed when two of its most iconic Hindu temples outside the Indian subcontinent were vandalized with anti-Hindu graffiti. The vandalism of the historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs came just within a week of anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti smeared on the walls of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park.
Earlier, two other Hindu temples in Melbourne were targeted in separate incidents of vandalism by Khalistani supporters.
The Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs and the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park were both defaced with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti, causing dismay among the Indian-Australian community.
