Canberra:
A third Hindu temple was vandalized with anti-Indian graffiti in Melbourne’s Albert Park on Monday, days after the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs was vandalized, The Australia Today reported.
The management of Melbourne’s International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple, also known as the Hare Krishna Temple, found that the temple walls had been vandalized with anti-Indian graffiti in the early hours of Monday morning.
Speaking to The Australia Today, ISKCON temple communications director Bhakta Das said they were “appalled” by the disregard for respect for the place of worship and added that they have lodged the complaint with Victoria Police.
“We are shocked and outraged by this blatant disregard for respect for the place of worship,” Das said.
Shivesh Pandey, an IT consultant and supporter of the ISKCON temple, said Victoria police have taken no action against people who are pursuing a “hate-filled agenda” against the Hindu community, the news report said.
“In the past two weeks, Victoria Police have failed to take decisive action against those who are pursuing their hate-filled agenda against the peaceful Hindu community,” The Australia Today quoted Shivesh Pandey as saying.
The attack on the ISKCON temple comes two days after Victorian multifaith leaders held an emergency meeting with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, according to the news report. The Victorian Multicultural Commission had issued a statement condemning the vandalism of Hindu temples in Mill Park and Carrum Downes.
Earlier, the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Australia was vandalized with anti-Hindu graffiti. The act was spotted on January 16 after temple devotees came for ‘darshan’ during the three-day ‘Thai Pongal’ festival celebrated by Australia’s Tamil Hindu community.
On Jan. 12, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melbourne’s Mill Park area was vandalized by anti-Indian elements with anti-Indian slogans written on the walls of the temple, located in the suburb of Mill Park, The Australia Today reported.
Patel, an onlooker who declined to give his first name, told The Australia Today how he witnessed the ruined walls of the temple when he visited the site on Thursday.
“When I reached the temple this morning, all the walls were stained with graffiti of Khalistani’s hatred of Hindus.” The Australia Today quoted Patel as saying.
He added: “I am angry, scared and appalled by the blatant display of religious hatred towards the peaceful Hindu community by Khalistan adherents.”
In a statement to The Australia Today, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir stated that they are “deeply saddened and shocked by these acts of vandalism and hatred”. It said they remain committed to “peaceful coexistence and dialogue with all religions”.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
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