The Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, on Wednesday said Australia takes cases of attacks on Hindu temples ‘very seriously’ and said his country is ‘experienced’ in dealing with such issues.
“We take these sorts of acts in relation to Hindu temples seriously as we take any act in relation to any religious element in our society. We have a lot of experience in dealing with this. Our police, intelligence, multicultural agencies, and state authorities are deeply focused on this,” Green said.
Hindu temples, Australia’s Hindu community and the Indian-Australian diaspora have faced threats to their safety and witnessed vandalism and damage to places of worship, perpetrated by Khalistani separatists Australia. This year over five cases have been reported where separatists associated with the Khalistan separatist movement have vandalised or defaced temples.
“In our country this (has) not spilt over or into anything truly troubling or serious, that is also not entirely coincidental , that is a large measure, we take it seriously,” Green further added when questioned about vandalisation of temples in Sydney, Melbourne and Carrum Downs and others during a discussion at the Asia Society Policy Institute in the national capital.
During the talks, Green was also asked about rising pro-Khalistan extremism in Australia. He said Australia is not dealing with the issue as a member of the Five Eyes Alliance – which comprises the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand – but as a partner and friend of India.
“Australia’s engagement with India on this issue is less as a 5 eyes partner and more as a friend of India and a country that is respectful of India with which we have a mature relationship. We discuss these issues sensitively and carefully behind closed doors,” Green said.
“Our relationship is at the highest point in our history. But I’m not here to rest on laurels. I’m here to get more things done. I’m here to drive the relationship further and to drive it faster. That’s what the Prime Minister told me to do when he sent me here,” he further added.
“On the economic front, our two-way trade has grown by more than 50% in the last five years. And last year, we signed the landmark Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). This deal has provided the momentum for negotiations towards an even more ambitious goal: a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement or CECA,” Green said, according to a report by news agency ANI.
Comments
0 comment