After Hindu temples, Khalistanis attack Bharat’s consulate in Brisbane, Australia

Days after the Khalistani radicals vandalised Hindu temples in Australia and Canada, they have now attacked the Bharatiya consulate in Brisbane and raised their flag at the office. This is the latest in a series of radical activities against the Bharatiya community in the country.

The incident comes days after Bharat asked the Australian government to crack down on Khalistani separatists, who have been attacking Hindu temples in the country.

According to the local media, the Bharatiya consulate, which is located on Swann Road in the Taringa suburb of Brisbane, has been targeted by Khalistani radicals on the night of February 21.

Consul of India in Brisbane, Archana Singh, found a Khalistan flag at the office when she arrived the next day. She immediately reported this matter to the Queensland Police, which on arrival confiscated the flag and enhanced the security of the consulate to prevent any immediate threat.

““I can’t tell you how upset I am for witnessing Hindu Temples being threatened for Khalistan propaganda. Police are surveilling the area to keep us safe. We have strong faith in the police authority,” Archana Singh was quoted as saying by the local media.

Editor of news outlet The Australia Today J. Bhardwaj said that so far, there were attacks on Bharatiya Australians. “But now, Khalistani supporters have started targeting institutions belonging to the Indian government. The attack on the Indian Consulate in Brisbane is a direct attack on the Government of India,” he told ANI.

The hoisting of the Khalistani flag at the Honorary Consulate of Bharat in Brisbane comes days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the country and emphasised the need for vigilance against radical activities targeting Bharatiya community in Australia.

Jaishankar and his deputy V Muraleedharan’s visited Sydney and Melbourne on February 18. It was during this meeting that Jaishankar raised concern about the attacks on Hindu temples to his counterpart Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Khalistanis attacking Hindu Temples

This incident occurred just a month after a ISKCON temple in Albert Park area of Melbourne was vandalized and anti-Bharat, pro-Khalistan rants were scribbled on walls by Khalistanis. This was the third such attack on Hindu temples in Australia in January.

Earlier, Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs near Melbourne and BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, Melbourne were smeared with hate messages against Hindus and Bharat. The spate of attacks on Hindu temples had triggered widespread concerns about rising Hinduphobia in the country.