Indians in Oz feel race angle being 'forcefully fed' by media

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jan 10 (PTI) Unhappy with the media in their
native country linking a slew of attacks on Indians here with
racism, many community members in Australia have complained
that they now feel threatened to move around freely because of
the "hype" over the issue and fear a backlash.

"It's not going the right way at all. We feel scared to
move around alone now, which was not the case earlier,
ever since the Indian media started giving blanket coverage to
such attacks," said Yogita Garyali, who has been living here
for the past six years.
She said Indians are feeling a constant threat about
their safety because of the Indian media going "rabid" about
racism.
Her friend,also an Indian Shiny Mehta also voiced similar
concerns, saying she used to take public transport at six in
the morning and as late as 11 in the night till few months
back and never experienced any safety issues.
"It was pretty safe...But now I will not commute during
these hours," Shiny said, claiming that the race angle has
been "forcefully fed" in the minds of locals as well as
Indians here.
Another young computer engineer Amitan Naqaib said he was
recently cornered by an old Australian lady in a jam-packed
tram, who suddenly asked why he felt Australia was a racist
country?
"I don't think Australia is racist, it's just law and
order situation. Indian media has hyped and exaggerated, "
Amitan felt. (More) PTI NC
AHM