Complaints flood in regarding ABC News false “Sikh attacks on temples” report

UPDATE-
ABC apologised for their false claim against Sikhs:

(Original article) Sikhs across the world have spoken out against an ABC News broadcast which reported a false claim of “Sikh attacks on temples”, without any evidence such an issue exists.

As revealed by respected Sikh diaspora focused outlet Baaz News, an ABC report which aired this week claimed India’s Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi stated “Sikh separatist attacks” were behind vandalism on Mandirs (Hindu temples) in Australia. The report was based on a meeting between Australia PM Anthony Albanese and Modi in Delhi.

However, Sikh Press Association reports have found no such comment was made in any of Modi’s official statements. ABC News themselves do not quote Modi making the comment in their own article on the meeting. ABC have referenced no official source for the statement, instead using the word “apparently” to justify the baseless claim in an online post. However, a ticker display the fake news on TV labels Sikhs as being behind the attacks as fact, breaching broadcast guidelines on accuracy.

Sikh PA have made a formal complaint to both ABC and the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Complaints to ABC can be made at- www.abc.net.au/contact/complain.htm.

The false news report refers to incidents in Melbourne and Brisbane which have seen some Sikh related terms daubed in graffiti on Mandir property. As police investigations continue, no evidence has been found to prove any Sikh is behind the vandalism. The graffiti has been concurrent with the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) Referendum campaign going on in both cities. This has led to accusations against Australian supporters of Khalistan. However, many Sikhs have suggested the graffiti is an attempt to tarnish the Khalistan Referendum campaign as anti-Hindu, instead of simply in favour of Sikh rights, which is the essence of the movement. The Indian state has a long history of trying to subjugate the Khalistan movement, which entwines with the state perpetrated 1984 Sikh Genocide.

Belief these acts of vandalism are being carried out by Hindu extremists attempting to tarnish Sikhs comes from the following facts:

• The random tag of “(BBC)” in a recent Brisbane incident make no sense in relation to Khalistan or any pro-Sikh position. BBC has been under attack as anti-Indian due to recently airing a documentary exposing India’s fascism and Modi’s genocidal past
• “Sant Bhindranwale Martyr” which was also daubed in one incident in Melbourne is not a Sikh phrase
• A group of Hindu men were caught red-handed with spray paint outside a Gurdwara in Melbourne, where Sikh posters were also being vandalised
• No CCTV footage has been released by any of the Mandirs to expose the vandals

The Khalistan Referendum has taken place peacefully and legally in Italy and the UK already. In Canada where similar incidents have arisen, a man with a Hindu name was arrested after being found behind acts of anti-Sikh graffiti, whilst another incident also revealed at least one claim of anti-Hindu graffiti on a Mandir to be false. Ontario authorities also confirmed a “false flag” has not been ruled out.

The Sikh Press Association is concerned about ABC news and Australian media ignoring Hindutva issues in the country. The depth of Australia’s Hindutva (Hindu extremist, which is entwined with Indian ultranationalism in belief of the Hindu rashtra [nation]) problem has been underlined in recent years through the actions of violent Indian mobs targeting Sikhs in various attacks, leading to the deportation of Hindu extremist Vishal Jood. After being kicked out of Australia for his anti-Sikh violence, Vishal Jood has become a figure celebrated by India’s media and countless ultranationalist fanatics.

With the in-power BJP group known to thrive of the ultranationalist rhetoric in India, the Indian state’s influence on Western media has long been a concern. The likes of Damon Johnston, Benn Packham (both of The Australian) and Stephen Dziedzic (ABC) seem to be regurgitating Indian ultranationalist anti-Sikh Indian propaganda, whilst completely ignoring the context of Australia’s Hindutva problem, or the well known fascism within India, which recently become a global topic after a BBC documentary was released on India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s genocidal actions. There is also concern about the impact of India’s ultranationalist online army swaying perception of the issue, through both social media bot networks and also pseudo-media accounts designed to look like regular news outlets but are actually Indian ultranationalist propagandists.

Speaking on the issue, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:

“ABC have put Australian Sikh lives in danger with this callous and inflammatory false news broadcast. There is no evidence Sikhs of any kind are behind the so-called temple attacks yet the entire community has been tarnished.

“No Indian official mentioned ‘Sikh attacks’ in the Delhi meeting, yet for some reason Stephen Dziedzic and the entire ABC team have decided to speak for not just India’s Prime Minister but even Australian police by blaming Sikhs for these attacks.

“This style of news reporting may be fair game in India, where press freedom is ranked 150th of 180 countries on earth, but Stephen Dziedzic and ABC News should not be allowed to degrade all the country’s media by bringing it to Australia. The facts are, there is no evidence to confirm any Sikhs are behind the graffiti.

“It is a great shame an institution like ABC News has fallen for Indian ultranationalist anti-minority propaganda. We will be urgently chasing repercussions for ABC’s dangerous anti-Sikh actions, and we will continue to follow their news broadcasts on Sikhs closely.”