Sydney:
With the Indian government now getting tough with Australian authorities after the recent spate of attacks on Indians, the Indian diaspora living in Australia for decades has spoken out. They say they have rarely been targeted.
The targets now are mainly students and young professionals vying for the same opportunities as the locals in an environment of global economic uncertainty.
Yadu Singh, a Cardiologist, says, ''Children of citizens and residents of this country, they do not seem to be having the same problem as students from India seem to be having. Taking the example of Nitin Garg, I would not go into that suburb at 10 pm in the night. Despite so much news about assaults and things, how come we are not learning?''
Anuj Kulshretra who is an Australian citizen, says, "The bigger we make this issue, the more it will be a problem for us who have been living here for so long.''
''It took me a while to understand them (Australians) and same forthem, they took time to understand me. So it's like bridging thegap.'', says, Sweccha Kulshretra, also an Australian citizen.
There is almost resentment against the new entrants, many of them from the IT sector. An even larger number of students from villages in Punjab, Gujarat and Andhra come to Australia for diploma courses and pick up odd jobs as cabbies or waiters in Indian restaurants.
"I think they would be misfits in a metropolitan city in India too. They don't know how to get around things, how they get things done, how to approach people.", says Madhu Bhatia, a single mother who feels more secure in Australia than in India.
"There is a resentment among the established Indians that these kids have come and they spoiling our name.", she adds.
For this segment of the community Australia is a safe home.
Psychiatrist, Madhu Misra, says, ''I come from Uttar Pradesh and I would never ever travel with my two young girls at 11 in the night. But here I am often on Saturdays, after a night out with my friends, I come home at 11 o'clock. I have never ever felt threatened.''
''There is a big picture out there. There are bad elements out there. Give me one society where there aren't, in India or wherever.'', she adds.