Another hate attack in Australia: Swaminarayan Temple vandalised with racial slurs

Swaminarayan Temple in Melbourne's Boronia (Courtesy: swaminarayan.melbourne)

A Hindu temple in Australia's Melbourne was vandalised with racist graffiti painted on its walls in red. Hateful racial slurs 'Go Home Brown C**t' was seen on the walls of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in the eastern suburb of Boronia. The incident reportedly happened on July 21.

According to reports, the same hate messages scribbled on the walls of the Hindu temple also appeared on two nearby Asian‑run restaurants.

Expressing shock over the vandalism of the holy place, Makrand Bhagwat, chief of the Hindu Council of Australia, Victoria chapter, said it feels like an attack on our identity. "Our temple is meant to be a sanctuary of peace, devotion and unity. Seeing it vandalised felt like an attack on our identity, our right to worship and freedom of religion", The Australia Today said in its report quoting him.

He said that the temple, which hosts daily prayers, community meals and cultural festivals, draws congregants from across Melbourne's Indian diaspora.

According to the Australian news outlet, the office of Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan sent a private message to the Temple management condemning the incident and calling it deeply disturbing. "The Shree Swaminarayan Temple is so much more than a place of worship - it's a place of warmth and community... What happened this week was hateful, racist and deeply disturbing. It wasn't just vandalism - it was a deliberate act of hate, designed to intimidate, isolate, and spread fear," Allan said as cited by The Australia Today.

"It was an attack on your right to feel safe and to belong, and on the values that bind us together. There's no place for it anywhere in Victoria. And it must be called out for what it is. Jackson Taylor raised this with me directly. He is a strong voice for your community, and I want you to know that we both stand with you. I'm advised that Victoria Police are taking this matter seriously, as they should. Soon, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs will visit the Shree Swaminarayan Temple to offer the support of our Government, and to listen to you and your community directly," Allan added.

Last week, an Indian man was allegedly assaulted in Australia’s Adelaide last week following what he described as a dispute over parking. According to reports, the incident occurred on July 19 near Kintore Avenue when Charanpreet Singh was out with his wife. The couple had just parked their car to view the city’s light displays when they were allegedly ambushed by a group of five men.

“They just said, ‘F**K off, Indian,’ and after that they just started punching," he said.