MelbourneA prominent Hindu temple in Australia has received threat calls, asking it to chant pro-Khalistani slogans if it wants to celebrate Maha Shivratri, which falls on February 18, peacefully, a media report said on Friday. This information was given. The threat call to the Gayatri temple in Brisbane came after three Hindu temples were vandalized with anti-India graffiti allegedly by “Khalistani supporters” in Australia’s Victoria state.
President Jai Ram and Gayatri Mandir’s vice-president Dharmesh Prasad received separate calls on Friday from a man who identified himself as ‘Guruwadesh Singh’ and asked the Hindu community to support a “Khalistan referendum”, The Australia Today reported. demanded. Claiming that he was calling from Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, the anti-India supporter asked the temple authorities to ask the Hindu community to support the ‘Khalistan referendum’.
“I have a message regarding Khalistan…If you are planning to celebrate Maha Shivratri….ask the priest to support Khalistan and chant ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ five times during your program Say…now show me how you are,” the report quoted Singh’s warning message to the temple president as saying, “I will chant this slogan.”
Talking about the threat calls, Prasad said that violence towards religious places is the biggest crime and “Should we Hindus be able to practice our religion without fear?” The report said.
Later, the temple’s public relations officer Neelima also said that she received several calls from an American number. The threat call to the Gayatri temple came after the recent attacks on three Hindu temples which were allegedly vandalized with anti-India graffiti by “Khalistani supporters” in Australia’s Victoria state.
Earlier, a Kali Mata temple in Craigieburn, a northern suburb of Melbourne, also received threat calls to cancel bhajans and worship programs or face the consequences. The Indian-Australian community is still reeling from the vandalism of three temples by Khalistani extremists.
On 23 January, the management of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple also known as the Hare Krishna Temple in Melbourne’s Albert Park vandalized the walls of the revered shrine with graffiti of Hindustan Murdabad.
On 16 January the historic Sri Shiv Vishnu Temple in Carrom Downs, Victoria was vandalized in a similar manner. On 12 January, the Swaminarayan Temple in Melbourne was defaced with anti-India graffiti by ‘anti-social elements’.