Sydney, Apr. 10 (ANI): Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has recalled an ””unabashedly racist”” comment about Asian immigration made by former British leader Margaret Thatcher, after she left office. Carr said the ””Iron Lady””, who died in London on Monday, had told him that Australia could end up like Fiji ””where the Indian migrants have taken over””, reports The Age. Carr, who has a Malaysian-born wife, said he respected Lady Thatcher for the boldness of her political leadership, but “100 other things I would pick arguments with her””. Carr said that Lady Thatcher, while in a conversation with him – and with his Asian wife standing not far away – had warned Australia against Asian immigration, saying that if too many Asians were allowed in, migrants might overtake the natives of the land. Carr said he was so astonished that he could not even think of an appropriate reply. But his recollections have drawn fire from Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop, who said Senator Carr owed Lady Thatcher”s family an apology. Lady Thatcher, Britain”s first female prime minister and longest-serving premier of the 20th century, was a divisive figure, with critics saying she destroyed millions of lives with her free-market economic policies. Her supporters have called her the greatest British leader since Winston Churchill and tributes have flowed from world leaders, who hailed her role in bringing down communism. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard praised Lady Thatcher, who was 87, saying she had ””changed history for women”” by opening the door to females taking high-powered leadership roles. Britain”s Queen Elizabeth II will lead mourners at Lady Thatcher”s funeral next week, the first time the monarch will have attended the ceremony of one of her former prime ministers since Churchill died in 1965. (ANI)
