Worried about attacks, India summons Australian envoy

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) Worried about safety of Indian
students in Melbourne, the nation's External Affairs Ministry
Friday summoned Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy
here to convey its concerns and ask his government to prevent
attacks on them.

McCarthy was called by Secretary (East) in the MEA, N
Ravi to convey India's concerns, responding to which the
Australian envoy said his government is taking steps to stop
such incidents.

"We are worried about the safety of Indian citizens,
particularly the students," External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna told reporters.
He said the Indian government is in constant touch with

Australian authorities "with a view to addressing issues
concerning the well-being and physical safety of our
students."

Krishna's comments and summoning of the Australian envoy
came after attacks on Indian students in Melbourne over the
last few days. One of the students is battling for life in a
hospital in Melbourne after being stabbed by a screwdriver by
a group of teens.

"I was asked to come to the Ministry of External Affairs
to discuss the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia.
Mr Ravi conveyed Indian concerns very clearly and urged that
we take steps to ensure that these sorts of incidents do not
occur," McCarthy said after his meeting at MEA.

McCarthy condemned the attacks on Indian students and
noted that similar statements had been made by several senior
leaders in Australia.

He termed the attacks as "criminal activity" and there
was no evidence to suggest that the assaults were racist.

"My own view is that it was a clear criminal activity. I
have not seen the evidence of (it being) racist," McCarthy
said.

He said Australia has been taking a number of measures to
"diminish" the prospects of such attacks taking place in the
future.

McCarthy said his discussion officials in the ministry of
External Affairs had with him was "absolutely justified" and
he would convey those views to authorities in Australia. PTI
PKU