Australian Senator David Shoebridge has raised concerns on behalf of the Sikh community, who are “reeling because their leaders are being targeted for political assassination.”
Speaking in the Australian Senate on Tuesday, Senator Shoebridge said, “Just a few short days ago the US Department of Justice announced that an Indian government official had directed the attempted assassination of a Sikh community leader on US soil. This followed the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, again directed by an Indian government official.”
“These actions show how far to the extreme the BJP government in India has lurched. If the BJP administration is actively plotting to kill political opponents in the US and Canada, just imagine what’s happening in India itself.”, Senator Shoebridge added.
He urged Australian politicians to show solidarity with Australia’s Sikh community, “who are the most visible targets of this extreme political violence.”, he said, adding, “I know there’s apprehension in the Sikh community about their safety here, and I can see why they are concerned.”
Senator Shoebridge said that the issue had been raised this directly with security agencies, including ASIO, Australia’s peak security and intelligence agency..
“ASIO has informed me that there is no current identifiable threat to the Sikh community here. The Sikh community is very visible in public places, especially when they are involved in politics. They deserve a clear and direct assurance from the Australian government that proactive measures are being taken to ensure their safety.”, he said.
“It’s one thing to ride in a golden chariot and venerate a foreign political leader, but the hard politics is when you need to put principles and the collective good of Australians ahead of a media sugar hit or the promise of a lucrative trade deal.“
David Shoebridge, Australian Senator
Senator Shoebridge demanded a public statement from the Australian government to the government of India that these actions represent a gross breach of international law that offends Australian values.
“Our government needs to make it clear that if something like this occurs in Australia it will be taken as a hostile act that would fundamentally undermine our bilateral relationship.”, he said, adding, “It is essential that this occurs now to prevent this violence from occurring in Australia.”
Taking an obvious jibe at PM Anthony Albanese, Senator Shoebridge ended his speech with, “It’s one thing to ride in a golden chariot and venerate a foreign political leader, but the hard politics is when you need to put principles and the collective good of Australians ahead of a media sugar hit or the promise of a lucrative trade deal. That’s when politicians earn their keep.”
