Labor’s Daniel Mookhey opposes Greens vilification of Hindus in NSW Upper House

You may be aware that a Greens party member of NSW Parliament had recently accused VHP, a Hindu not-for-profit organization of being an extremist organization. Mr Shoebridge’s allegation has been denied by the Police and VHPs work in teaching Hinduism at schools has been appreciated by the Department of Education, by the NSW Minister of Multiculturalism and by MP Mark Latham of One Nation Party. Mr Shoebridge has not retracted his statement and nor has he apologized to VHP and Hindu community. 

Hindu Council of Australia and Hindu SRE providers have taken up the matter with the NSW Government, NSW Opposition and cross benches asking them to demand an apology from Mr. David Shoebridge of Greens political party.

Daniel Mookhey, the only Hindu in NSW Upper House had taken his oath on Bhagwat Gita and his father was one of the founders of the first Hindu temple (Sri Mandir, Auburn) in Australia. Nitin Daniel Mookhey (born 1982) is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 6 May 2015,[1] when he was appointed to fill a vacancy caused by Steve Whan‘s resignation. He was born in Blacktown in Western Sydney to Indian migrants from Punjab.

 

Nitin Daniel Mookhey, MLC

A summary of his statement is given below :

“Recently, I had the chance to meet with some teachers working in our public school classrooms teaching Hindu children about their religion. Teaching Hinduism in New South Wales schools is no easy feat. When I finished my schooling I had never, ever attended a Hindu scripture class. Like many, I spent that time watching episodes of The Simpsons in non‑scripture, back when The Simpsons was still worth watching. I am proud that my kids are spared that wasted time. Today a Hindu child can learn in a New South Wales school that Hinduism as a faith is no less than Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism or the world’s other great religions.

However, at the recent budget estimates hearings an organisation that teaches Hinduism to Hindu children came under scrutiny. The Vishva Hindu Prasad, or VHP, was labelled a militant and far-right Hindu extremist organisation.  Any organisation that is active in our schools can be scrutinised in this place, but members who make allegations need evidence. There is no evidence that the VHP in Australia is anything other than a voluntary organisation of men and women who teach Hindu children about their religion. So says the NSW Police Force; so says the Department of Education. The allegations that were made at budget estimates have hurt many people in the Hindu community. I and the Labor Party urge the member who made those allegations to reconsider making such remarks. Budget estimates is there to hold the Government accountable; it is not there to slur a peace‑loving community with false allegations.”

His full statement can be perused at :  

Legislative Council Hansard – 05 May 2021 – Proof (nsw.gov.au)

A videos of his statement is also available at : 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bp05B4bXVCK5AKO6eBsXJzOHE0QCVEwK/view

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