‘Bashed from every side’: Sydney men attacked, car damaged in suspected [sectarian violence] 7NEWS.
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Video uploaded by Australia's 7NEWs March 3, 2021 (the day after incident):
Drawn from an article in The Diplomat (paysite) March 10, 2021.
"The alleged attackers [of the car with Indian Sikh Australians inside] are believed to be men who strongly identify with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As a political party built around an ideology of religious nationalism, the BJP inspires a certain fervor among its supporters that when aroused can be difficult to restrain.
Due to its ideological mission, the BJP government of [Indian Prime Minister] Modi "has little tolerance for dissent. After rushing through new agricultural laws, rather than engage with the farmers’ anxieties and concerns about the potential impact on their livelihoods, the Modi government has instead tried to suppress and denigrate the farmers. The goverment narrative has painted the protesters as Khalistani separatists or other “anti-nationals” — the favored term used for anyone critical of the BJP. This is creating a further sense of insecurity for Sikhs, and a fear of a similar event to 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom.
...The critical question for the Australian government [including State and Federal Police, and other security, is whether Indian-Australian sectarian political rallies, in Australia, should be permitted].
"Yet due to Canberra’s strong desire to further enhance its relationship with India, and the BJP’s current political dominance, it is unlikely that the Australian government would feel itself capable of saying no should the BJP wish to hold another such event as it did at Sydney’s Olympic Park in 2014. And, of course, due to the global access to information, the BJP’s transnational influence would be impossible to restrict anyway.
Unfortunately, this influence is leading to a new — and mostly unwarranted — image of the Indian diaspora. It’s transforming the public’s perception of the diaspora from a highly successful, cohesive, valued, and law-abiding group into one driven by the political grievances and communal tensions of Indian domestic politics. Were this trajectory to be maintained it would be highly detrimental to the Indian Australian community, and for the broader support within the Australian public for increased ties with India..."
[Issue of interest on sidelines of Quad Summit Talks to be held March 13, 2021].
SEE WHOLE THE DIPLOMAT PAYSITE ARTICLE HERE