Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raised the attacks on temples in Australia and the Khalistan Referendum that was allowed there with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during their bilateral meeting in New Delhi.

“It is a matter of regret that attacks on temples have been regularly reported in Australia over the past few weeks. It is natural that such news worries the people in India and disturbs our mind. I have shared these feelings and concerns of ours with Prime Minister Albanese. And he has assured me that the safety of the Indian community is a special priority for him.

Our teams will be in regular touch on this topic, and will cooperate as much as possible,” Modi said in a brief media statement with Albanese beside him.

Albanese made no reference to this in his media statement but Australian authorities have in the past condemned the attacks on temples allegedly by Khalistani supporters.

There have been four cases of temple vandalisation in Australia since January, the latest just last week in Brisbane.

In most of the cases, anti-India or pro-Khalistan graffiti was sprayed on the temple walls. Briefing journalists after the first annual summit between the two countries, foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said Prime Minister Modi underscored the fact that pro-Khalistani elements were disturbing peace and harmony in both societies, and it was necessary to take cognisance of the challenges this represents.

While admitting that common challenges in the region — particularly in the maritime domain — were discussed, the foreign secretary’s response to questions on whether the bilateral relationship was accelerating due to Chinese belligerence and how it would impact Sino-India relations was that the engagement between India and Australia should be viewed in the bilateral ecosystem and not in relation to any third country.