Khalistani Group Causes Ruckus As Indians Celebrate Independence Day In Australia

An event marking India's 79th Independence Day outside the Consul General in Australia's Melbourne was disrupted by pro-Khalistani individuals. Indian nationals had gathered outside the consulate to peacefully celebrate Independence Day, when "goons" interrupted the event with Khalistani flags, according to a report by The Australia Today.

A video of the incident circulating online shows a verbal altercation between the two groups. The separatist group raised pro-Khalistan slogans. In a counter-move, Indians defended their stance by singing patriotic songs.

Per reports, Australian authorities reached the spot and prevented the situation from escalating into a physical confrontation.

The tricolour was later hoisted at the consulate amid loud cheers of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram".

Pro-Khalistan Violence In Australia

The Independence Day ruckus comes amid growing pro-Khalistan activities in Australia, with a worrying rise in targeted hate crimes.

Last month, pro-Khalistan separatists defaced the Swaminarayan Temple in Australia's Boronia, where hateful slurs, including "Go home brown c**t", were spray-painted over the establishment's wall.

Additionally, nearby Asian-run restaurants were also defaced with a similar message and portrait of Adolf Hitler.

Before that, a 23-year-old Indian origin man was assaulted in Adelaide over a parking dispute.

India has urged countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia, where such incidents are on the rise, not to give space to Khalistani extremists.

"These radical extremist ideologies aren't good for us, them, or our ties," Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had said earlier.