The Australian Sikh community finds themselves at the centre of allegations and accusations from Hindu and pro-India groups, as a string of vandalisms strike mandirs across Melbourne.
Police investigations are still ongoing. However, no security footage or descriptions of suspects have been shared by the multiple mandirs to assist in identifying culprits. No groups or individuals have yet to claim responsibility either.
On January 12. 2023, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, a North Melbourne Suburb, was found to be vandalized. The walls of the Mandir were adorned in slogans such as “Modi=Hitler”, “Sant Bhindrawale Martyr”, and “Hindustan Murdabad”.
Not long after, on January 16, 2023, and January 23, 2023, two other Melbourne mandirs were also found to be vandalized. Similarly, their walls displayed spray painted slogans like those found on the BAPS Mandir earlier in the month.
In a statement, Victoria Police conveyed that while they are investigating the matter, they are not in a position to name any suspects, and cannot confirm whether the spate of vandalisms are connected.
However, that has not stopped multiple Hindutva and Indian actors from laying the blame on Sikhs immediately.
The Australia Today, a well known pro-Modi outlet, reported that the vandalism had been perpetrated by “Khalistan supporters”, adding that Hindus now fear for their safety in Australia.
The Australia Today editor, Jitarh Jai Bhardwaj, states that he has seen the CCTV footage of the vandalism. However, the recordings, if they exist, have not been made public or made available to assist in identifying any suspects. Something that is otherwise often done when attempting to solve vandalism cases.
Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia, another pro-Modi organization, also released a statement whereby they assert, again with no evidence, that “Khalistani Extremists vandalized and defaced” the BAPS Mandir.
These incidents occurred in the lead up to the January 29, 2023, Khalistan Referendum in Melbourne. Organizers shared that approximately 60,000 individuals participated. The vote was not without controversy as 25 pro-India demonstrators fell upon the polling area, triggering a clash, with sources sharing that antagonizing slogans were thrown at Sikhs, including calls to recreate the 1984 Sikh genocide.
All of this comes at the same time as mandirs in Canada also have been vandalized.
Similarly to Australia, the BAPS Mandir in Toronto was vandalized in September, 2022, with pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans, in the lead up to the Khalistan Referendum vote in Brampton that same month. Over 100,000 individuals participated at that polling location.
Like the incidents in Australia, no CCTV footage has been released by BAPS Toronto, and no description of suspects has been provided either. Sources with knowledge of the investigation have shared with Baaz News that some authorities and officials have grown frustrated and suspicious over the lack of evidence considering the comprehensive security systems in place at the mandir.
Claims of vandals attacking the Shri Bhagavad Gita Park, which were spread by Candian Liberal Member of Parliament Chandra Arya and the High Commission of India, around the same time, were later proved to be false and completely fabricated, as first reported on by Baaz News.
More recently, the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton was also vandalized on January 30, 2023, with similar anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti. Again, there is no CCTV footage or descriptions of suspects. Investigations are ongoing. However, no party has claimed responsibility.
Unlike the mandirs, vandalisms of Khalistan Referendum posters and Gurdwaras have been captured by video, including in Canada. Vandalism of Khalistan Referendum posters in Melbourne are also currently being investigated by Victoria Police as well.
Sikhs in Melbourne’s North West caught five Hindu men as they attempted to vandalize Tarneit Gurdwara.
Khalistan Referendum voting happening in Australia and the following events have taken place
1. Indian extremists have vandalized Mandhirs to try and defame Sikh sovereignty pic.twitter.com/TRXQRA4TRQ
— Prabhjot Singh (@free5ab) January 30, 2023
The men confessed to attempting to vandalize the Gurdwara and the Khalistan Referendum posters that had been put up, partly in retribution for what they believed to be the targeting of mandirs across Melbourne by Sikhs.