Australians have condemned multiculturalism after video emerged of thousands of Indian immigrants, many with Sikh separatist flags, flooding the streets of a Melbourne suburb.
The footage was filmed on Sunday in Tarneit, where Australian-born residents are a small minority, and showed barefoot Sikhs marching with religious banners and flags representing Khalistan – a proposed breakaway ethno-religious state in the Punjab region of northern India.
Men could also be seen carrying large swords, while others sat in a large yellow trailer pulled by a ute during the Nagar Kirtan parade, which was organised by the local Sikh temple, the Tarneit Gurudwara Sahib.
But the procession sparked outrage on social media after being shared by political commentator Auspill, who said the brazen display of Sikh separatism – which has previously led to violence on Melbourne’s streets – being allowed by the authorities highlighted a “two tier” system.
Indian migrant separatists illegally march through Australian suburbs completely unbothered while a father gets deported for participating in a police authorised protest against a foreign lobby..
Two tier. pic.twitter.com/pCjx5ic0Ud
— auspill (@aus_pill) November 19, 2025
“Indian migrant separatists illegally march through Australian suburbs completely unbothered while a father gets deported for participating in a police authorised protest against a foreign lobby,” he wrote, referring to South African activist Matthew Gruter, whose visa was cancelled over a National Socialist Network rally.
“This has no effect on social cohesion, if you were wondering,” wrote the British Australian Community.
“This is obviously resulting in the obstruction of a suburban street. Is this really strengthening social cohesion in Australian communities?” asked one Aussie.
“Indian suburb – a sub country inside the land mass. There are multiple countries, they are no longer part of Australia- they just share the same land mass,” wrote another.
“Foreign flags advocating for their own state… Khalistan… in the Punjab. Deport,” said a third.
Many Indians also criticised the parade, with one writing: “On behalf of all Australian Indians, I wholeheartedly request the government to deport all non-citizens in this group.”
“Thanks to Australian government migration policy over the years which did not promote integration. Soon Australia will have all the civil and ethnic wars of the world. Khalistani v Indian nationalists, Pro-Israel v pro-Palestine, Turk v Greeks, African tribal wars, ME conflicts. Multicultural dream.”
The parade comes after Sikh separatists tore and trampled flags outside the Indian consulate in Melbourne earlier this year, sparking accusations from India that the stunt was organised by Pakistan and calls from the Hindu Council of Australia for pro-Khalistan protests to be shut down “forever”.
There was also a tense stand-off between rival Indian groups at the cricket in December, and a violent altercation in Federation Square in 2023 following a non-binding referendum on Khalistan independence.
Header image: Left, right, Sikhs march through Tarneit (Gurduara Sahib Tarneit).
