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Australian Foreign Minister assures India on preventing attacks on Indian students | Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday said that his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith has assured him that Australia will take concrete and preventive action to 'contain' the string of attacks reported on Indian citizens Down Under.
Interacting with media ahead of Thursday's conference on Afghanistan here, Krishna
said: "I talked to Mr. Stephen Smith, we have drawn their (the Australian
Government's)
attention to the recent attacks on Indian students." He also said that the Prime
Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had spoken with his Australian counterpart Kevin
Rudd on the issue, and categorically expressed is concern over this unwarranted
violence on Indians, mostly students. The statement assumes significance, as
Australia's
education industry nets its government a revenue of 15 million dollars annually.
"We expect the Australian Government, the Victorian and the New South Wales
Governments
to contain the situation," he added. He also said that he is looking forward to
the results of the investigations being carried out by the Australian authorities.
"I am very happy that the Australian Government, provincial Government of Victoria
have taken our concern seriously at a high level and a high level working group
has been set up. They would comprehensively study the reported incidents," Krishna
said. "I have been assured by the Foreign Minister of Australia that as soon as
this high level working group completes its investigations, they would apprise
the Government of India," he added. He further revealed that community policing
has been stepped up and patrolling has been increased in Australia. Krishna has
repeatedly raise the issue of violence against Indian students in Australia and
officially condemned the attacks as "brutal". He warned on several occasions that
the attacks were creating 'deep anger' in India, and could have an adverse bearing
on bilateral ties. The attacks over the past 18 months, including the fatal stabbing
of a 21-year-old Indian graduate this month, have strained ties between the two
countries. Nitin Garg was stabbed to death at West Foorscray, a suburb of
Melbourne
by some goons on the night of January 2, while he was on his way to work. The
attacks have continued unabated. A number of Indians, including taxi drivers have
been assaulted. These attacks have been described as "opportunistic" and "not
racially motivated" by the Australian police. The attacks against Indians, including
students in 2009, mainly in Melbourne, has led to violent protests and strained
bilateral ties, prompting Australia's Minister for Employment and Workplace
Relations,
Education and Social Inclusion and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and other
Australian ministers to visit India at regular intervals to assure the Indian
Government that steps are being taken to stop such attacks. |
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