Mixed response to Krishna's Oz vist amid fresh attacks

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Aug 10 (PTI) The visit of Union External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna's to Australia has evoked a mixed
response from the Indian community, amid fresh attacks on them
as they hoped it would put greater pressure on the government
to provide more security to the minority community.

Krishna concluded his five-day visit on Monday with
assurances from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as well
as Victorian and New South Wales government on the safety of
Indian students.

Krishna, who raised the issue of racial attacks
against Indian students in Australia with Rudd, was assured by
him that every Indian student in this country would be
protected.

Indians living here felt the trip will underline the
seriousness of the crisis to the Australian government.

Primus Telecom chief Ravi Bhatia, who attended
Krishna’s reception here, said the visit was an "excellent
opportunity" "to make a first hand evaluation of the
situation, establish a working relationship with various
Australian government entities".

"Krishna’s visit will signal the seriousness of the
situation to various parties in Australia," Bhatia told PTI.

At the same time, he underlined the need for the
community to take steps "for personal safety" as well as
understand the "importance of social integration".

Sydney-based leading cardiologist Yadu Singh said he
was pleased that the minister did not harp on the
controversial issue of racism.

"He handled the student's safety issue very maturely,"
Singh said, who also met the minister in Sydney along with
some college students.

He said the minister's concern over "dubious"
educational institutions in Australia that were ruining the
lives of young Indians put the focus on the exploitation by
some private institutes.

Krishna during his visit called for new regulations to
cover private colleges and continued reform by the federal and
state governments.

Singh, however, expressed his concern over the
negative media coverage of the issue linked to the safety and
security of Indians. He said there was "an irresponsible
segment of the media that was harping on racist attacks".

He sought a more balanced coverage of the issue with
greater involvement of the "Indian community members who have
been living here for long time". "Segment of the media needs
to be more responsible and objective in reporting these
incidents," Singh underlined.

Two students from Indian states of Punjab and Madhya
Pradesh have become the latest victims of attacks on Indians
in Australia when they were assaulted by a group of men
separately.

Melbourne-based Moti Visa, who is Justice of Peace in
Victoria, wanted evidence from the Australian government about
implementing the assurances given to the community.

"We want now evidence of those assurances," Visa said.

Raj Dudeja, a community leader and editor of a
newspaper for ethnic Indians in Melbourne, said the "Krishna's
visit will surely put pressure on the Australian government to
provide adequate security to the students".

However, he underlined the need for action as similar
assurances were given from time to time ever since the crisis
erupted. "We want to see result now," Dudeja stressed.

For Gautum Gupta, of the Federation of Indian Student
Association, the minister did very little as far as
accountability and policy review to provide more services to
the community by the Indian consulate was concerned.

"There was lot of hot air," he said, adding "it was
very disappointing that the minister did nothing and spoke
nothing for those students whose colleges have been shut
down".

"He spoke nothing in regards to refund or compensation
to those students," Gupta said. PTI NC
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