Melbourne, August 10: The visit of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna”s to Australia has evoked a mixed response from the Indian community, amid fresh attacks on them as they hoped it would put greater pressure on the government to provide more security to the minority community. Krishna concluded his five-day visit today with assurances from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as well as Victorian and New South Wales government on the safety of Indian students.
Krishna, who raised the issue of racial attacks against Indian students in Australia with Rudd, was assured by him that every Indian student in this country would be protected. Indians living here felt the trip will underline the seriousness of the crisis to the Australian government.
Primus Telecom chief Ravi Bhatia, who attended Krishnas reception here, said the visit was an “excellent opportunity” “to make a first hand evaluation of the situation, establish a working relationship with various Australian government entities”. “Krishnas visit will signal the seriousness of the situation to various parties in Australia,” Bhatia told PTI. At the same time, he underlined the need for the community to take steps “for personal safety” as well as understand the “importance of social integration”.
—-PTI–