Temple in Australia desecrated, defaced with anti-Modi slogans, Khalistani flag hung on gate
Sydney Central Business District, New South Wales, Australia 
4 May, 2023
Case Summary
In Western Sydney's Rosehill suburb of Australia, a Khalistani mob targeted a Hindu temple. The BAPS Swaminarayan temple was vandalised, with the perpetrators inscribing "Declare Modi Terrorist (BBC)" on the temple walls. Additionally, a Khalistan flag was hung on the temple gate. Upon the incident's discovery, the NSW Police arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation. The temple management cooperated by providing CCTV footage to aid in the ongoing inquiry.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. In this case, the Khalistani perpetrators defaced a Hindu temple with anti-India and anti-Modi slogans and hung a Khalistani flag to desecrate the temple. In this case, the Khalistani perpetrators desecrated a Hindu temple with anti-India and anti-Modi slogans and hung a Khalistani flag in the temple. While it can be said that since the slogans were against the country and its Prime Minister in particular, the crime should not be documented in the Hindu hate tracker. However, the truth remains that the attack on Hindu temples is in itself reflective of the hostility Khalistani separatists nurture against Hindus. It is pertinent to note that Khalistani separatists harboured specific animosity towards Hindus and their faith and also view India as a Hindu collectivity. The very basis of their demands for a separate country carved out of India is that India is a Hindu collectivity and the Sikh religious identity is separate from it, much like Islam. Therefore, by the Khalistanis, anti-India slogans are also a manifestation of anti-Hindu sentiments of the Khalistanis and therefore, constitutes a hate crime.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Sikh Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
