Australia: BAPS Swaminarayan temple attacked, defaced with anti-India graffiti in Melbourne

The walls of the prominent BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne's northern suburb of Mill Park were defaced with anti-India graffiti with "Hindustan Murdabad" slogan.

BAPS Swaminarayan temple condemned the attack. In a tweet, BAPS Swaminarayan temple wrote: “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 quoted a local as saying that all walls were coloured with graffiti of Khalistani hatred towards Hindus today morning.

India Today quoted a journalist, Amit Sarwal, as saying that “The Hindu community in Melbourne has lodged a formal complaint with the police and MPs.”

This has been going on since last year.

“There were messages against Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted on the walls of the temple. Several Indian and Sikh leaders are distressed by this whole incident," he was further quoted as saying by India Today.

Kerala Hindu association has also condemned the incident, he told the news organization, he said.

Hindu Council of Australia’s Victoria state President Makrand Bhagwat also condemned the attack.

He demanded that Victoria Police and Premier Dan Andrews take strong action as the incident was in violation of the racial and religious tolerance act of Victoria.