Melbourne: Following the organisation of an unauthorised assembly and blocking of the office's entrance by supporters of Khalistan, the Honorary Consulate of India in Brisbane was forced to close due to safety concerns. The blockade comes days after Australian PM Anthony Albanese, during a visit to India, assured PM Narendra Modi that his government will not tolerate “extreme actions” like attacks on religious places. The incident is the latest in a series of radical activities against the Indian community in Australia.
Queensland police said it was an unauthorised gathering, however, they were allowed to enter the consulate property and block anyone from entering it, according to the media.
Regional Queensland resident Parvinder Singh claimed that the blockade forced him to reschedule an appointment he had to make at the Brisbane embassy. These bullies shouldn't be let to control how Australians live their lives, according to Singh. The police and government of Queensland must step in, said Singh.
PM Anthony Albanese, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on March 11, said, “Australia won’t tolerate any extreme actions and attacks that took place in religious buildings, and there is no place for such action against Hindu temples. We will take every action through our police and also our security agencies to make sure that anyone responsible for this faces the full force of the law. We’re a tolerant multicultural nation, and there is no place in Australia for this activity.”
