Author: Editorial
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: January 8, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/227815/Onus-is-on-Australia.html
It must halt attacks on Indians
It is astounding that Canberra should ask
New Delhi to refrain from "whipping up hysteria" over the brutal
attacks on Indian students in Australia. The country's acting Foreign Minister
Simon Crean and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard have gone on record to
say that there is nothing to suggest that the murders of Nitin Garg and Ranjodh
Singh in the last few days were racially motivated. In fact, the two Australian
Government representatives went on to explain how crimes take place all over
the world and that it is practically impossible for any Government to wipe
out crime completely. All of this has come in response to External Affairs
Minister SM Krishna's comment that unless the vicious attacks on Indians in
Australia are curbed, relations between the two countries will suffer. The
Ministry of External Affairs has also issued a travel advisory to Indians
travelling to or planning to stay in Australia for a significant amount of
time. But Canberra, it would appear, is offended by this response. It would
have us believe that New Delhi is over-reacting and that there is absolutely
nothing to worry about since the investigations into the crimes are already
underway. But is the Indian reaction really so irrational? These attacks have
been taking place for over a year now. Every time an Indian has been attacked
in Australia, the authorities there have reassured us that they are looking
into the cases and will crack down on the perpetrators. But the fact is the
attacks have continued unabated and there is nothing to suggest that we have
seen the last of them. If the Australian authorities think that New Delhi's
reaction has been harsh, they must also remember that it comes after two Indian
citizens were murdered.
The Australian authorities' reiteration that
investigations into the incidents are underway is simply not good enough.
If at all action has been taken against the perpetrators of these heinous
crimes, we need to know the details. We also need to know what measures the
Australian Government has taken to ensure that such racial attacks do not
take place in the future. After all, the victims are Indian citizens and it
is the job of the Government of India to be concerned about their welfare.
Besides, there is absolutely nothing provocative in the travel advisory that
has been issued. All that has been advised is that Indian students in Australia
should take precautions, avoid travelling alone at night and stick to busy
areas. In fact, given the circumstances, the Victoria Police itself has concurred
with the travel advisory. To be very honest, in the interest of protecting
its citizens, if things do not improve, the Government of India must consider
issuing a sterner advisory. It is not that New Delhi wants to jeopardise its
relationship with Canberra in any way. But if the Australian authorities do
not do something to bring down the incidents of crime substantially, it will
automatically start impacting relations between the two countries. For, Indian
students going to Australia to pursue higher studies is something that is
an intrinsic part of bilateral relations. If Indians start viewing Australia
as an unsafe destination, those ties will obviously deteriorate and there
is nothing that New Delhi can do about it. The onus is on the Australian authorities
to get out of denial mode and start producing results as far as the investigations
into the crimes against Indians are concerned. The time for promises is over.
