Attacks on Indians regrettable, should be seen in context:Rudd

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jan 21 (PTI) Australian Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd Thursday said the attacks on Indians here were
"regrettable" but should be seen in the context of "broader
incidences of violence" as police warned that "hysterical"
responses could lead to more "hard core racist intentions" and
violence.
As Australian authorities pledged to tackle the issue in
an effective way, a shaken Indian student-cum-cabbie, who was
brutally stabbed by a masked man here last month leaving his
right lung punctured, said he was unable to work now.
"Regrettably, there have been some incidents recently,
let's accept that, but let's put it into context, and also in
the context of, let's call it, the broader incidences of
violence to students of other ethnic backgrounds, acts of
violence against Australian students, acts of violence in
particular parts of our large cities at any given time of the
day," Rudd told reporters in Adelaide.
"I think it's important to keep all this into its
context," he said, adding "obviously these are difficult
matters in India, they are difficult matters in Australia."
His remarks came a day after Indian External Affairs
Minister S M Krishna asked Australia to put in more effective
security measures to check the attacks on Indians, failing
which he said the people-to-people exchanges which include
those going for education and tourism would get "adversely"
affected.
Nearly 100 cases of attacks on Indians were reported in
Australia in 2009. Nitin Garg, a 21-year-old student who was
stabbed to death here by unidentified assailants, was the
first victim of such attacks this year. (More) PTI