Attacks on Indians in Australia unfortunate: Minister
Minsk (Belarus): Reacting to the recent attack on Indians
in Melbourne, Australia, External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna said on Thursday
that the incidents were unfortunate. He said the Indian Government would take
up the issue with the Australian authorities. Krishna issued the statement after
concluding his two-day visit to the Central Asian state of Belarus. His statement
came even as Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned Indian students living
in Australia not to take the law into their own hands. Four Indians were assaulted outside a bar in Melbourne on the weekend. Rudd said Australia was
a law-abiding nation. "The laws are there for a purpose and that is for all citizens
to adhere to them," he said. When asked what message he had for anyone who took
the law into their own hands, Rudd said: "People should not".
Apart from Rudd, Victoria Premier John Brumby is facing a lot of flak for not doing enough
to prevent racially motivated attacks on the Indian community in his state's capital
Melbourne. A trip to India next week to promote Melbourne as a safe city has turned
into a monumental challenge for Brumby after another racist attack attracted fresh
headlines and anti-Australian fury across India. Five days before he leaves for
India, Brumby signalled that police may get more resources to fight racially motivated
violence in response to the latest incident, in Epping on Saturday night. Two
Indian men and another two of Indian origin say they were racially taunted and
told to ''go back to your country'' before being kicked and punched by attackers
who were part of a large birthday celebration at Legends Entertainment Centre.
The Indian Government increased pressure on Australia over the ''recurring attacks''
on its citizens. It called on authorities to ''take all necessary steps towards
the safety and security of Indians''. Indian consular officials in Melbourne were
also ordered to investigate, The Age reports. The moves came amid a furious outcry
in India, where cable TV news channels said they were flooded with angry callers,
and blog sites ran hot with anti-Australian commentary. Noted author and television
personality Farukh Dhondy said Indians must retaliate. In Melbourne, Victoria
Police did not put out a statement calling for witnesses to the attack until yesterday
morning - more than three days after it occurred and a day after it had already
been reported in India. Police denied any attempt at a cover-up. Acting Senior
Sergeant Glenn Parker said: ''Unfortunately, within the community, these types
of incidents happen regularly and this is really treated no differently, so there's
been no deliberate attempt to suppress it.'' One of the victims, Sukhdip Singh,
26, had been in Australia just one month. A relative said he had suffered head
and facial injuries and wanted to return to India immediately. His uncle, Mukhtiar
Singh, 45, also a victim, said Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard's recent assurance
to India's Foreign Minister that Australia was safe for Indian students rang hollow.
