Oz racial attacks: Students for action, Krishna assures safety

Updated on Thursday, August 06, 2009, 10:32 IST Tags:Racial Attacks, SM Krishna, Australia, Students, Kevin Rudd
Zeenews Bureau Sydney: External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who is on a five day visit to Australia, on Thursday said that the safety of overseas Indians is one of the top priorities of the govt. His Australia visit comes in the backdrop of the string of racial attacks on Indian students Down Under that had created a great deal of anxiety back home. Krishna’s assurance of ensuring safety of Indians abroad came during his meeting the members of the Australian-Indian community.
The Federation of Indian Students in Australia (FISA) members, who have been in the forefront protesting against the attacks on Indians, also met the Foreign Minister appealing that he should press the Rudd government for more action against the attackers. The students added that India should encourage the Australian government to be more co-operative to Indians. FISA also demanded that Indian government must set up a crisis centre here to help Indian students in times of emergency. Krishna will meet his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith and also expected to discuss the situation with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd later in the day. Krishna will also travel to Melbourne to meet Indian students after the bilateral talks with Australian officials. New Delhi has expressed deep concerns over the safety of Indian nationals living in Australia who have been subjected to racial bias and faced attacks in the past two months. Prior to External Affairs Minister’s visit, the Australian government had assured to take additional preventive measures to ensure safety and security of Indians and improve the situation in most-affected parts of the country. This will be the first high-level visit from New Delhi to Australia since reports of attacks on Indian students in the country sparked public outrage in back here. In last 52 days between May 25 and July 15, 83 Indians, mostly students, have been assaulted. This works out to more than one attack every day. Australia has the largest number of Indian students (about 97,035) next only to the US (1,04,522). In June, according to government figures, there were at least 10 cases of assault on Indians “which might have a racial element”.

India should forthwith tell Australia that if it cannot control its lumpen elements, India would ask all Indian students to return and would make alternate arrangements for their education, in a foreign country if required. -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

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