CANBERRA (TIP): The Australian government has threatened deportations following four attacks on the Sikh community ahead of a March 15 round table in the Australian Federal Parliament to highlight concerns about New Delhi’s heavy handedness and suppression of dissent in dealing with the legitimate demands of farmers.
It all started with a pro-farm Bill rally billed as “Tiranga Yatra” followed by another such rally that provocatively stopped in front of a Gurdwara.
In both cases, the rally organizers and members of the Sikh community have traded charges of intimidation.
In the next two incidents, there was no doubt about the targeted community.
In one, a Sikh youth was chased on the streets and in the latest incident captured on CCTV, a group of Sikh men flee a gang, who smashed up their car with bats and hammers while they were still inside.
Police have been holding meetings with community leaders calling for calm while exact motives behind this latest violence are being investigated, the report said. Police are investigating whether the incident was a result of racial and political tension. They are still trying to identify those men involved and are asking for anyone who might have information to come forward, the report added. “We are coming down hard to make sure there is no further violence,” Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell said. “It is a small minority. But my message to them is under no circumstances will the NSW Police tolerate it,” Thurtell added.
Meanwhile, the Australian Alliance Against Hate and Violence has held a press conference to raise awareness of the growing threat that Hindu far right extremism poses to social cohesion in Australia. The organization which held the press conference outside the Consulate General of India, offered support for the agitating farmers in India.
Former legislator of New South Wales David Shoebridge has wondered what has happened to the land of Gandhi “which has suddenly been filled with so much of hate”.
In one instance of tensions within Sydney’s Indian community on February 14, the Tiranga Rally’s chief organizer and admin of the Facebook group “Indian Diaspora in Sydney”, Yogesh Khattar, said there was no intention to head towards a Gurdwara. “We had no plans or designs to disrespect or target any individual, group or place of worship. We are peaceful people and strong believers of multiculturalism and want to spread harmony in the community,” he told the media.
(Source: PTI)