World News | Swaminarayan Temple in Melbourne Defaced by 'anti-social Elements' with Anti-India Graffiti: BAPS
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. A prominent Hindu temple has been defaced by "anti-social elements" here with anti-India graffiti at the gates in an apparent hate crime, according to reports.
Melbourne, Jan 12 (PTI) A prominent Hindu temple has been defaced by "anti-social elements" here with anti-India graffiti at the gates in an apparent hate crime, according to reports.
The incident took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Melbourne's northern suburb of Mill Park. However, the time is not yet known.
Evan Mulholland, Liberal MP for the Northern Metropolitan Region, tweeted," Thinking of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir community after the Mill Park temple was vandalised today. This vandalism is deeply distressing for Victoria's peaceful Hindu community, especially at this holy time.”
Meanwhile, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Australia in a statement appealing for peace has said that they are deeply saddened by this incident.
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"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 BAPS temple in Mill Park, like all temples of BAPS worldwide, is an abode of peace, harmony, equality, selfless service, and universal Hindu values," they said in a statement on Thursday.
"...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," the statement said.
"We are thankful for the appropriate authorities, including the governments of Australia and India as well as local community organisations, for their continued support. BAPS Mandirs across Australia are symbols of a thriving multicultural society which nurtures Australian values of respect, mateship and tolerance."
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is a spiritual, volunteer-driven faith dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service PTI
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)