Govt is not mute on Oz race attacks: Centre to SC

Rejecting allegations that Government has been “mute and helpless spectator” to the incidents of racial attacks in Australia,the Ministry said “the Centre has been extremely concerned about the welfare and safety of the Indian students studying in Australia and has spared no effort in making sure that these students are adequately and properly protected and looked after”.

The Centre was responding to the notice issued by the apex court for explaining the steps taken to ensure safety of Indian students facing racial attacks in Australia.

It said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself had taken up the matter with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on May 29 and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had also intervened on the issue.

“In all these conversations,the Australian leaders have shared the concern expressed and given their firm commitment to take immediate steps to tackle the problem,” the Ministry’s affidavit to the apex court said.

It said the Indian High Commissioner in Canberra and Consulates General in Sydney and Melbourne are in touch not only with the Australian authorities but also with Indian students and their community.

The Centre said a task force has been constituted by Australian authorities to coordinate with various states in that country to address the issue of racial attacks.

It said several other steps at the instance of India has also been taken by the Australian authorities which include provision of a 24-hour hotline in both Hindi and English by Community Reference Group to provide support,information and advice to Indian students who are victims of crime.

The affidavit said at the instance of the Indian government,police operations have been specifically launched to investigate the attacks and emphasis has been laid on more police presence in sensitive areas like railway stations.

The matter is posted for hearing on June 29 and a vacation Bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Asok Kumar Ganguly has asked the Attorney General G E Vahanvati to assist the court.

The Bench had on June 22 said the direction was being passed since the incidents had not stopped though “the Union of India might have taken up the matter at the highest level”.

The PIL filed by advocate Ranveer Yadav had accused the Centre of inaction in dealing with the attacks on Indian students in Australia and Canada.