By Jai Bharadwaj and Amit Sarwal
As Sydney’s Indian Australian community was trying to recover from the vicious anti-Hindu vandalism of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Rosehill, another menace by Khalistani supporters left them disappointed with authorities.
Ankur Patel a resident of Sydney’s western suburb of Blacktown is angry because he had to face Khalistan propaganda banners near his shopping centre.
Mr Patel told The Australia Today, “How can someone put posters and banners with pictures of terrorist Bhindrawale*.”
“This can’t be tolerated in a civil society like Australia,”
said Mr Patel.
He is not alone to be noticing and being upset with Khalistan propaganda material being put on local streets.
Rupinder Kaur Singh (name changed on request) is a dentist in Sydney.
She told The Australia Today, “I am unable to explain to my daughters why posters of terrorists have been mounted near my house.”
“Clearly they are unauthorised, I called Blacktown city council and they told me they are sending someone to remove the banners,”
Ms Singh said.
The Australia Today understands a number of residents of Blacktown city council have complained about propaganda material at their doorsteps with pictures of Khalistani terrorists.
Blacktown City Council’s CEO Kerry Robinson has issued an official statement on behalf of the Mayor.
Ms Robbinson says, “We are removing the banners and posters around the City placed on public property as these have been erected without our approval.”
“We have asked NSW Police to undertake a risk assessment of an event proposed to be held at Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope on 4 June by a Victorian-based organisation called Sikhs for Justice Pty Ltd.”
“Police have access to intelligence and to other law enforcement and intelligence
agencies that are not available to Council. We will act on the advice of the Police.”
“We will also continue to work with our community to ensure all are able to safely
celebrate their cultural identity,” Ms Robinson added.
Last week the BAPS Swaminarayan temple of Western Sydney’s Rosehill suburb was vandalised in an anti-Hindu attack by Khalistan supporters.
This incident happened after the calm of almost two months of Khalistan activities in Australia.
In the early hours of Friday morning, temple management found the front wall of the temple vandalised with graffiti “Declare Modi Terrorist (BBC)” and a Khalistan flag hanging on the gate.
Local Member of Parliament for Parramatta Andrew Charlton reached the BAPS Temple as soon as he was informed of the Hindu Hate incident.
Mr Charlton also helped in removing anti-Hindu graffiti from the Temples walls.
Earlier this week Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen stood in Federal Parliament and called the attack on @BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Sydney unacceptable and un-Australian.
“Our whole community stands with you and against intolerance and hatred,”
Minister Bowen said.
However, residents like Ms Singh and Mr Patel are now fed up with slow actions by the local councils and NSW Police.
The Australia Today is given to understand an online meeting is being organised today (11 May) by concerned residents to draw a strategy to counter Khalistani propaganda.