Acts of violence can happen anywhere; Australia

New Delhi/Melbourne, Jan 6(PTI) In the face of India's
strong reaction to continuing assaults on Indians, Australia
Wednesday said it was taking all steps to the "best of its
ability" to ensure their safety but maintained that acts of
violence could occur anywhere in the world.
Australian High Commissioner Peter Verghese called a
press conference to clarify the media reports which had quoted
his acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean having said that he
has asked the Indian leaders not to fuel "hysteria" over the
issue. "He did no such thing....
"He was simply making a point that these issues need
to be dealt with in a measured way and I will hope that no one
wants to make a contrary comment," Verghese added.
Verghese described the Indian reaction as "measured
and totally understandable" to the assaults taking place in
Melbourne and other parts of his country.
Insisting that Australia was safe for international
students, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said "in big
cities around the world we do see acts of violence from time
to time; that happens in Melbourne, it happens in Mumbai, it
happens in New York, it happens in London."
She also downplayed the advisory issued by India
yesterday in wake of these attacks, including fatal stabbing
of 21-year-old Nitin Garg. The travel warning was a matter for
the Indian government and Australia will continue to welcome
students from that country, she said.
Verghese also tried to clarify the reports that there
was any letdown in security measures taken for Indian
students, saying "it is not accurate." (More) PTI