Attacks on Indians racially motivated: Cosgrove

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jan 20 (PTI) Asking his country to confront
'racism', Australia's former Defence Force chief has stated
that the attacks against Indians was a 'major problem' and its
nature made it easy to conclude they were racially motivated.

General Peter Cosgrove told "The Age" after his address
on Australia day that the number of incidents against Indians
seemed "too many to be coincidences".
"Attacks recently by groups of people on individuals
looks like a profiling approach to people from the
sub-continent" .
"Rather than say 'nothing to worry about', I'd rather
look more closely. If you didn't suspect a racial strand you'd
be mad," he said.
He said there was ongoing estrangement between the
broader society and elements of the Muslim community.
His comments, in an Australia Day address titled
"Sunshine and Shade", deal more openly and directly with race
issues than many political figures have been willing to do.
The speech also highlighted Australia's history of
tolerance and positive attitudes to immigrants.
General Cosgrove, a former Australian of the Year, said
the issue of violence towards Indians had been brewing for
sometime, but "has erupted over the last several weeks to
become a major problem". (MORE) PTI NC
AHM


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