New Delhi:
The Indian government has officially asked students to avoid Australia for now. "The advisory put out to the Indians is to be careful and not to go at the moment for further studies," says Parneet Kaur, Minister of State, External Affairs.
The warning comes after Thursday's reports about 10 more Indians attacked in separate cases in Brisbane and Melbourne. (Read: OZ envoy summoned after 10 Indians attacked)
Earlier this week, India's External Affairs Minister SM Krishna met his Australian counterpart in London and asked him to contain the "unprovoked attacks" against Indians. Last year, more than a 100 Indians were attacked in Australia.
A worried Australian government has set up a special committee to investigate the attacks. It has also given India a dossier with information on the attacks. However, Krishna told NDTV that "the dossier is silent on whether all attacks were racially motivated. Smith had no answer when I asked why Indians only were being attacked." (Watch: Krishna: Why are only Indians attacked?)
On Thursday morning, India woke up to the news that a group of Australians had attacked a group of Indian students in their own home in Melbourne. In Brisbane, three cab drivers and a pizza delivery boy were also beaten up. (Read: 10 more Indians attacked in Australia)
Australia is now openly voicing concern over relations between the two countries. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has said that at a meeting with Krishna, "We resolved this was a difficult issue which we did not want to get in the way of the change good and strong bilateral relationship between Australia and India which we've taken to new levels in the last couple of years." (Read: Australia concerned over relations with India)
But students are already starting to shun Australian colleges. Last year, 95,000 Indian students moved to Australia, contributing a significant part of the country's 19 billion dollar education industry.
The number of Indian students applying for student visas to Australia has halved, compared to a year ago.
Prashant Parsuram, currently in Mumbai on vacation, has decided not to return to his college in Melbourne." Though I have not been attacked, my dad says he is not going to wait for something to happen to me before he decides one way or the other," he says.
Meanwhile, the Victorian government has opened a new International Student Care Service in Carlton. Premier John Brumby announced a slew of schemes for international students including legal and emergency assistance.
Also, a new 24-hour support service will be started that will make a real difference for international students.
Government had provided Australian $500,000 to set up this service and would be providing a further $250,000 to deliver a legal assistance and support service to international students.
The warning comes after Thursday's reports about 10 more Indians attacked in separate cases in Brisbane and Melbourne. (Read: OZ envoy summoned after 10 Indians attacked)
Earlier this week, India's External Affairs Minister SM Krishna met his Australian counterpart in London and asked him to contain the "unprovoked attacks" against Indians. Last year, more than a 100 Indians were attacked in Australia.
A worried Australian government has set up a special committee to investigate the attacks. It has also given India a dossier with information on the attacks. However, Krishna told NDTV that "the dossier is silent on whether all attacks were racially motivated. Smith had no answer when I asked why Indians only were being attacked." (Watch: Krishna: Why are only Indians attacked?)
On Thursday morning, India woke up to the news that a group of Australians had attacked a group of Indian students in their own home in Melbourne. In Brisbane, three cab drivers and a pizza delivery boy were also beaten up. (Read: 10 more Indians attacked in Australia)
Australia is now openly voicing concern over relations between the two countries. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has said that at a meeting with Krishna, "We resolved this was a difficult issue which we did not want to get in the way of the change good and strong bilateral relationship between Australia and India which we've taken to new levels in the last couple of years." (Read: Australia concerned over relations with India)
But students are already starting to shun Australian colleges. Last year, 95,000 Indian students moved to Australia, contributing a significant part of the country's 19 billion dollar education industry.
The number of Indian students applying for student visas to Australia has halved, compared to a year ago.
Prashant Parsuram, currently in Mumbai on vacation, has decided not to return to his college in Melbourne." Though I have not been attacked, my dad says he is not going to wait for something to happen to me before he decides one way or the other," he says.
Meanwhile, the Victorian government has opened a new International Student Care Service in Carlton. Premier John Brumby announced a slew of schemes for international students including legal and emergency assistance.
Also, a new 24-hour support service will be started that will make a real difference for international students.
Government had provided Australian $500,000 to set up this service and would be providing a further $250,000 to deliver a legal assistance and support service to international students.
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