Kali temple receives Khalistani threat [ Melbourne, Australia ]

[ Reported as seen ]

A temple of Goddess Kali  in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Craigieburn in Australia received threats from Khalistani terrorists for organizing a Bhajan program of Indian singer Kanhiya Mittal.

Bhawna, the  priest of the temple  received the threats from an unidentified caller who spoke to her in the Punjabi language from an unknown phone number three weeks ago.

According to a report by Australia Today, Bhawna told that at around 3 PM on 24 January when she was retiring after serving food in the daily Bhandara, she received multiple calls from an unidentified person whose phone number was not displayed.

The caller spoke to her in Punjabi and said that he is her well-wisher and asked her if is she organizing a Bhajan program in the temple with Indian singer Kanhiya Mittal. Bhawna confirmed that they are organising a big bhajan-kirtan and the program is scheduled for 4th March. Thinking that the call was for a sponsoring enquiry, she said told the caller to the other number for such purpose. As they were receiving lots of calls regarding sponsoring programs, and therefore thought it was also a similar call.

The unknown caller asked her to cancel the program. When she said that they have already done preparations and they cannot cancel the event now, the caller warned of adverse consequences if the program is held, as the invited singer is staunch Hindu. The caller said, “You listen carefully, cancel your singer’s bhajan-puja program otherwise get ready to face consequences. Do you know your singer is ‘staunch Hindu’? If he comes, a fight is sure at the temple.”

Bhawna, pleaded to the caller to not disrupt the program. She said that this is Ma Kali’s place, and even Guru Govind Singh used to pray to the Goddess, and there is no reason for anyone to disrupt the program. The caller responded by saying, “My job is to warn you if you don’t listen it’s up to you. We will show you what we can do.”

It was after this threatening call that 3 Hindu temples in the country was vandalized. She told The Australia Today, “Next couple of days were very tough as we came across the news of three Hindu temples vandalised with anti-hindu graffiti by Khalistan supporters.”

Bhawna further said that free boarding and food have been arranged for anyone travelling to Melbourne to attend the bhajan puja, and hoped that police will ensure safety.

The Hindu festivities of the Kali temple has drawn a large number of devotees every year. It is a spiritual location for around 100,000 devotees in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

Hindus cannot be dedicated Hindus if they are the radicals look at them as grave ‘threats’. They often use terms such as- ‘Sanghi’, ‘Staunch Hindu’, etc to justify their injustice and crush any voice that be raised from their victim’s side.