A senior Indian official has claimed Pakistan was behind a recent protest where Sikh separatists tore and trampled flags outside India’s consulate in Melbourne.
About 30 Sikhs waving the flags of Khalistan – a proposed new state in northern India – chanted “long live Pakistan” and stood on the Indian flag during the demonstration amid tensions between Islamabad and Delhi earlier this month.
Protesters held signs saying “Sikh soldiers, do not fight against Pakistan, stop Modi’s jingoistic war” and “Punjab Khalistan referendum” along with images of the Indian Prime Minister in prison garb and upside down.
One high-placed Indian government figure told local Indian news outlet The Australia Today the protest was a “proxy stunt”.
“We always knew that this whole protest drama is organised by proxies and is sponsored by Pakistan,” the official, who requested anonymity, said.
“Their aim is to foment division, but it only underlines how unpopular their agenda is here.”
The Hindu Council of Australia responded to the protest by calling on the Australian government to shut down pro-Khalistan protests “forever”.
“This is not freedom of speech. Is this sort of insult going to stop,” the organisation said social media.
“We haven’t seen this sort of insult Indian national flag. Australia is a very close ally in all the sectors with India and how can the current government let this continue. This has to stop.”
The demonstration was also condemned by Sikhs online, with some calling for those involved to be deported, and others warned that Sikh-Hindu tensions in Australia were starting to resemble those in Canada, where April federal election was rocked by Indian interference claims.
“Shame on them. Insulting Indian flag is a disgrace. They came here in Indian passports,” said one Sikh.
“Don’t vote for labor they always support these morons,” said another.
The protest is the latest in series of clashes between Sikh separatists and Indian nationalists in Melbourne, including a violent altercation in federation square in 2023 following a non-binding referendum on Khalistan independence, and a tense stand-off between rival groups at the cricket in December.
Outside the MCG: pic.twitter.com/7AALbsK7NC
— auspill (@aus_pill) December 28, 2024
Indians under attack in Melbourne Australia. A Khalistan referendum was organised today by SFJ at federation square of Melbourne.
Khalistanis brutally attacked Indians who were protesting against the rising khalistani elements in Australia pic.twitter.com/Ag5upC6zdn
— Megh Updates ?™ (@MeghUpdates) January 29, 2023
Header image credit: The Australia Today.
