Indian students on Australia visa reassured after violent attacks

August 07 2009 by Matt Jones

Minister Krishna talks Australian immigration

The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has met with the Indian Foreign Minister and reassured him that Indian students in Australia are safe, following the attacks of the last few months.

The 90,000 strong Indian-born student population in Australia were shaken after a series of vicious attacks were carried out in Melbourne and Sydney. The visiting Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna has been reassured by Prime Minister Rudd that action is being taken.

Krishna says: "Prime Minister Rudd is fully aware of the sensitivity of the issues concerning students. He informed us about the remedial measures already taken by the government. I am satisfied that Australian government at federal and state levels are fully geared to meet the situation

Twenty six year old Indian student Sumit who is on an student Australia visa says the attacks were not all racially based, some were simply opportunistic.

Sumit says: "Ninety-nine per cent of the time they're roaming around in a group of one - they're single or they're in a group of two or three. Easiest target you can have. Whoever is in a group of like one, two and is roaming around in the city - he's a target.”

The attacks generated large amounts of media coverage in India and so Minister Krishna visited Australia for five day visit, starting on Wednesday with the aim of reassuring Indian students who have made the move to Australia.

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