JALANDHAR: Claiming that the New South Wales (NSW) police on Sunday helped stop a large convoy of vehicles heading towards the Glenwood gurdwara and “foiled an attempt of some miscreants to provoke/disrupt Sunday services at the gurdwara”, Sydney-based Australian Sikh Association (ASA) has alleged that the convoy proceeded towards gurdwara after holding a rally in Parramatta with Indian national flag and shouting religious slogans.
“We were informed that police officers, accompanied by the riot squad, helped stop a large convoy of vehicles heading towards the gurdwara and took control of the roads leading to the sacred premises… The timing of this coincided with Sunday congregation and is strongly believed to have the intent of disrupting the service and damaging the building,” ASA said in a statement issued on Monday. The Association manages the Glenwood gurdwara.
Thanking the NSW police “for prompt and efficient response”, ASA said otherwise this could have turned into an ugly incident, in turn tarnishing the image of the normally peaceful Indian diaspora in Australia. “The ASA has also been apprised of the ugly incidents that have occurred recently in Sydney area when Sikh symbols were desecrated and Sikh youth were beaten mercilessly. Such violent and divisive incidents can only embarrass the Indian diaspora,” it said.