Hindu Temple In Australia Asked To Raise Khalistani Slogans On Maha Shivratri

Reports of yet another Hindu temple allegedly being the target of Khalistani supporters emerged on Friday.

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The temple received threatening calls in which it was asked to raise pro-Khalistani slogans if it wanted to observe Maha Shivratri peacefully, which falls on February 18.

Hindu community asked to support 'Khalistan Referendum'

Jai Ram, the president and Dharmesh Prasad, the vice president of Gayatri Mandir, received separate calls on Friday from a man who identified himself as 'Guruawadesh Singh' seeking the Hindu community to support the "Khalistan Referendum", The Australia Today reported.

Claiming that he was calling from Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, the anti-India supporter asked temple officials to ask the Hindu community to support the 'Khalistan Referendum'.

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Ask for 'Khalistan Zindabad' slogans during Maha Shivratri

"I have a message in relation to Khalistan... if you plan to celebrate Maha Shivratri .... then ask the priest to support Khalistan and raise 'Khalistan Zindabad' slogans five times during your event... now show me how you will raise this slogan," the report said, quoting Singh's warning message to the president of the temple.

Regarding the threat call, Prasad said that violence towards religious places is the biggest crime and "we as Hindus should be able to practice our religion without fear", the report said.

Later, the temple's Public relation officer Neelima also said they received several calls from an American number.

Earlier, a Kali Mata Mandir in Melbourne's northern suburb of Craigieburn also received a threatening call to cancel a bhajan and puja event or face consequences.

Meanwhile, the Indian community in Australia condemned the vandalism of Hindu temples in several parts of the country and asked for strict action against the perpetrators.

Vandalisation at Hindu temples in Australia

Earlier in January this year, several Hindu temples were vandalized in different parts of Australia, allegedly by Khalistan supporters.

"I expect the Government to take appropriate actions against 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 while speaking to ANI.

Several others also echoed the same opinion while talking to the news agency.

In January, Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Australia's Carrum Downs was vandalized with anti-Hindu graffiti.

Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple/ Image by Tripadvisor

On the evening of January 15, 2023, Khalistan supporters tried to draw support for their referendum through a car rally in Melbourne. However, they failed miserably as less than two hundred people gathered out of an almost 60,000-strong Melbourne community, according to The Australia Today.

A week before the above incident, On January 12, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Australia's Mill Park was smeared with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti.

BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir

On January 23, the management of Melbourne's International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple also known as the Hare Krishna Temple, found the temple walls vandalized with anti-India graffiti.

(With inputs from agencies)

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