“Police have been told graffiti was written on the walls and fence of a building on Heaths Road in the early hours of the morning,” the Victoria Police spokesperson told SBS Hindi.
“We are deeply saddened by the anti-India graffiti at the gates of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, Melbourne, Australia by anti-social elements,” the statement said.
People praying at a Temple (Representative image). Credit: Andy Jacobsohn/AP/AAP Image
“At this time, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, has prayed for peace and unity and has appealed to all devotees and well-wishers to maintain peace,” it added.
The organisation further thanked the appropriate authorities, including Australian and Indian government and local community organisations.
In a Facebook post, Lily D’Ambrosio, Mill Park’s Member of Parliament, expressed her concern over the incident.
Mill Park’s Member of Parliament Lily D’Ambrosio. Source: AAP / DIEGO FEDELE/AAPIMAGE
“I have reached out to the Mill Park Mandir today to express my concern with the attack on the temple. The Mandir is a very important place of worship across broader Melbourne and is used to host many events that grow a better understanding amongst us all of the rich diversity of our community,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
The Liberal party’s Jason Wood also condemned the attack and called it an ‘outrageous racial attack on a peaceful religious place of worship’.
Liberal party member Jason Wood (L). Credit: Jason Wood’s facebook page
“Absolutely disgraceful and disgusting act by idiots to vandalise a place of worship. I strongly condemn this behaviour. The offenders should be put in prison, this hateful behaviour have no place in our society,” he said in a Facebook post.
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