New Delhi:
After denial and insensitivity, Australia has finally responded to the attacks against Indians with a tone that attempts reconciliation.
The Australian High Commissioner in Delhi, Peter Varghese, said, "we are taking the attacks against Indians seriously". Varghese, addressing a press conference also said "Our acting Foreign Minister did not say India's reaction was hysterical. He only said we should deal with these issues in a measured way."
Amid outrage in India, Australian papers quoted their acting Foreign Minister as saying there was no evidence to suggest that the attack on Garg was racially motivated and asked New Delhi not to whip up "hysteria" over such incidents. "It so happens that one of the victims is Indian Melbourne is not the only city in the world where this happens. It also happens in Delhi and in Mumbai," Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean reportedly said.
Asked about comments by his Indian counterpart S M Krishna, who urged Australia to respond to the "uncivilized brutal attack on innocent Indians", Crean allegedly said he hoped "wiser heads will prevail".
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said to ABC News "In big cities around the world we do see acts of violence from time to time; that happens in Melbourne, it happens in Mumbai, it happens in New York, it happens in London."
Over the weekend, a 21-year-old student, Nitin Garg, was murdered late at night in Melbourne while on his way to work at a fast-food joint. On Tuesday, another body, reported to be that of a 25-year-old Indian, was found partially burnt in New South Wales. Hours later, on Tuesday evening, India issued a travel advisory to its students in Australia. Students have been asked not to travel alone at night, and to always inform somebody who is not with them about where they're headed.
India's advisory was seen as a diplomatic snub brought on by Australia's inability to protect Indian students.
The Australian High Commissioner in Delhi, Peter Varghese, said, "we are taking the attacks against Indians seriously". Varghese, addressing a press conference also said "Our acting Foreign Minister did not say India's reaction was hysterical. He only said we should deal with these issues in a measured way."
Amid outrage in India, Australian papers quoted their acting Foreign Minister as saying there was no evidence to suggest that the attack on Garg was racially motivated and asked New Delhi not to whip up "hysteria" over such incidents. "It so happens that one of the victims is Indian Melbourne is not the only city in the world where this happens. It also happens in Delhi and in Mumbai," Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean reportedly said.
Asked about comments by his Indian counterpart S M Krishna, who urged Australia to respond to the "uncivilized brutal attack on innocent Indians", Crean allegedly said he hoped "wiser heads will prevail".
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said to ABC News "In big cities around the world we do see acts of violence from time to time; that happens in Melbourne, it happens in Mumbai, it happens in New York, it happens in London."
Over the weekend, a 21-year-old student, Nitin Garg, was murdered late at night in Melbourne while on his way to work at a fast-food joint. On Tuesday, another body, reported to be that of a 25-year-old Indian, was found partially burnt in New South Wales. Hours later, on Tuesday evening, India issued a travel advisory to its students in Australia. Students have been asked not to travel alone at night, and to always inform somebody who is not with them about where they're headed.
India's advisory was seen as a diplomatic snub brought on by Australia's inability to protect Indian students.
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