The Indian Consulate in Melbourne, Australia, was defaced with graffiti at its St Kilda Road entrance overnight. Local police suspect the vandalism occurred between Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning. The Indian High Commission in Canberra confirmed the incident and has formally raised the issue with Australian authorities.
In a social media statement, the High Commission said:
“All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of Indian diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in the country.”
While the consulate has not released an official statement, sources indicate the matter has been escalated to senior Victorian officials.
This incident follows a pattern of ‘anti-India’ acts in Australia. In 2023, Khalistani flags were attached to the Indian Consulate in Brisbane after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit. That same year, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Sydney was defaced with graffiti. In October 2023, masked individuals vandalized and stole from two Hindu temples in Canberra.
Rising Concerns Over Safety
These repeated incidents have heightened fears for the safety of Indian institutions and communities in Australia. Notably, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Sydney was previously targeted with graffiti declaring “Declare Modi Terrorist,” as reported by the BBC. Separately, Khalistani-linked groups allegedly threatened the Kali Mata Mandir in Melbourne over a planned bhajan event featuring singer Kanhiya Mittal, known for his Hindu nationalist stance.
