Mixed response to Krishna's Aus visit

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 on Monday 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 in Australia felt the trip will underline the seriousness of the crisis to the Australian government. Primus Telecom chief Ravi Bhatia, who attended Krishnas reception in Australia, 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."

"Krishna's 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."

Sydney-based leading cardiologist Yadu Singh said he was pleased that the minister did not harp on the controversial issue of racism.

"He handled the student's safety issue very maturely," Singh said, who also met the minister in Sydney along with some college students. He said the minister's concern over "dubious" educational institutions in Australia that were ruining the lives of young Indians put the focus on the exploitation by some private institutes.

Krishna during his visit called for new regulations to cover private colleges and continued reform by the federal and state governments. Singh, however, expressed his concern over the negative media coverage of the issue linked to the safety and security of Indians.

He said there was "an irresponsible segment of the media that was harping on racist attacks." He sought a more balanced coverage of the issue with greater involvement of the "Indian community members who have been living here for long time."

"Segment of the media needs to be more responsible and objective in reporting these incidents," Singh underlined.

Meanwhile, two students from Punjab and Madhya Pradesh have become the latest victims of attacks on Indians in Australia when they were assaulted by a group of men separately. Melbourne-based Moti Visa, who is Justice of Peace in Victoria, wanted evidence from the Australian government about implementing the assurances given to the community. "We want now evidence of those assurances," Visa said.

Raj Dudeja, a community leader and editor of a newspaper for ethnic Indians in Melbourne, said the "Krishna's visit will surely put pressure on the Australian government to provide adequate security to the students."

However, he underlined the need for action as similar assurances were given from time to time ever since the crisis erupted. "We want to see result now," Dudeja stressed.

For Gautum Gupta, of the Federation of Indian Student Association, the minister did very little as far as accountability and policy review to provide more services to the community by the Indian consulate was concerned.

"There was lot of hot air," he said, adding, "It was very disappointing that the minister did nothing and spoke nothing for those students whose colleges have been shut down. He spoke nothing in regards to refund or compensation to those students," Gupta said.

Image: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd shakes hands with Union Foreign Minister S M Krishna in Cairns on Friday

Photograph: Ho New / Reuters