Last Updated:
The Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia, Australia, was defaced with hate graffiti, along with two nearby Asian-run restaurants. An investigation into the incidents has begun.
Swaminarayan Temple in Australia’s Boronia (Photo: Official Website)
The Swaminarayan Temple in Australia’s Boronia was defaced with hate slurs painted in red graffiti, The Australia Today reported. The targeted temple is located on Wadhurst Drive, and the incident happened on July 21.
The report claimed that the same hate messages, scribbled on the walls of the temple, also appeared on two nearby Asian‑run restaurants.
Meanwhile, Makrand Bhagwat, chief of the Hindu Council of Australia, Victoria chapter, condemned the attack on the temple and said, “Our temple is meant to be a sanctuary of peace, devotion and unity. Seeing it vandalised felt like an attack on our identity, our right to worship and freedom of religion”, the report claimed.
Bhagwat also noted that the Shree Swaminarayan Temple hosts daily prayers, community meals and cultural festivals, drawing congregants from across Melbourne’s Indian diaspora.
The report said the Victoria Police had begun an investigation into the four linked incidents in Boronia, including the temple and two restaurants.
“The police are investigating following reports of graffiti in Bayswater and Boronia on July 21,” A Victoria Police spokesperson told The Australia Today.
In April this year, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Canada’s Surrey was defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti.
A Canada-based journalist visited the temple following the act of vandalism and shared a video of the site.
“This is the third time it has been vandalised. I spoke to the management and devotees, and they do not feel like the police or the political establishment care at all,” said the journalist.
The act took place at around 3 am, when two individuals spray-painted pro-Khalistan slogans on the temple walls and removed a security camera.
Earlier, the Khalsa Diwan Society’s Ross Street Gurdwara in Vancouver was defaced with pro-Khalistani slogans.
The Gurdwara management condemned the actions, calling it part of an “ongoing campaign by extremist forces that seek to instil fear and division within the Canadian Sikh community.”
ALSO READ | Hindu Temple Defaced In California With Anti-India Graffiti, BAPS Says ‘Will Never Let Hate…’
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
view comments
- First Published:
