PM Modi Takes Up The Issue Of Attacks On Temples With Australia PM Albanese In Joint Press Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (10 March) spoke to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese about the increasing attacks on Hindu temples in Australia, by pro-Khalistani elements in recent months.

During the joint press meeting, Prime Minister Modi said that, “I have seen reports of attacks on temples in Australia. I have conveyed this to PM Albanese and he has assured me that the safety and well-being of the Indian community in Australia is a priority for them.”

Why Are Hindu Temples Being Targeted?

Recent political events, especially those around the so-called “farmers’ protests” saw the re-kindling of the Khalistani movement in Punjab and abroad.

The supporters of the Sikh-supremacist movement have now taken to targeting the Indian diaspora in countries like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where they have considerable ground support.

Prominent temples such as Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane, Shiva Vishnu Temple in Melbourne, and a BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melbourne have faced attacks from them.

The attacks not only target the Hindu community but also included anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans, along with displaying pictures of slain Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

The Indian Ambassador to Australia had previously taken up these issues with the Australian government, when a Khalistan referendum was held in Melbourne and a group of Indian students were attacked with weapons during the same.

While the Khalistani movement has not found much ground support in India, attempts to internationalise the issue has been made, for quite some time.

The government, earlier hesitant to take the ‘internal security’ matter international, is now making it a point of order in its bilateral conversations with key partners like Australia.