Members of the Indian community gathered at the Indian consulate in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday to celebrate the South Asian nation’s 79th Independence Day. However, the festivities were reportedly disrupted by a pro-Khalistani separatists.

In a counter-move, Indians invested in the ceremonious gathering defended their stance by raising their voices to sing patriotic songs. The ruckus created by the hecklers was ultimately drowned out. 

At the time of writing, the Consulate General of India in Melbourne had not addressed the reported issue. Two hours ago, the official @cgimelbourne page share via X that Consul General Dr Sushil Kumar hoisted the Indian flag, with Hon. Brad Batin, MP, Cr Pradeep Tiwari, Mayor of Marybyrong and other members of Indian diaspora joining him.

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“The morning was filled with patriotic fervour, soulful renditions of patriotic songs, and a shared commitment to strengthening the India–Australia bond,” wrote the official account, sharing a series of excitement-oozing photos of the day.

Indian Independence Day celebrations disrupted in Australia: Pro-Khalistani group’s ruckus

A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, with a page called ‘The Australia Today’ also pushing out the clip on X. The widely circulated incident caught Khalistani sympathisers breaking out into a bout of sloganeering, causing disturbance outside the Consulate General of Indian in Melbourne.

People of Indian origin had all come together to peacefully celebrate the country’s 79th Independence Day on August 15, bearing loud music and the Indian tricoloured flag. 

As Indian had plans to hoist a flag of the country, the group of disruptors interrupted their celebrations with protest, while wielding their own proposed Khalistani flags at the scene. 

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Other hateful pro-Khalistani instances pushing anti-India agenda

The Independence Day ruckus comes just weeks after the Swaminarayan Temple in Australia’s Boronia was reportedly vandalised. Hateful slurs were spray-painted over the establishment’s building, which read, “Go home brown c**t.” Additionally, nearby Asian-run restaurants were defaced using an unexpected portrait of Adolf Hitler. 

Moreover, Khalistanis vandalised the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Greenwood, Indiana, US. The goons reportedly graffitied anti-India and anti-Narendra Modi visuals on the walls of the Hindu temple. 

BAPS Public Affairs eventually noted how this week’s incident marked the fourth time the temple had been desecrated in less than a year. 

This is a breaking story. More Information will be added soon…