Why Indians can’t be protected in Australia? by Afshain Afzal

Nitin Garg, who was killed by racist assailants in Australia, was cremated in his native town of Jagraon, Chandigarh.
Nitin went to Australia about three years ago to pursue an MBA course. He returned home late last year after getting a permanent residency certificate. No body had wondered that this Australian national who was successful in getting permanent residency certificate will return to India in a coffin. Among the hundreds of mourners at the funeral procession, First Secretary in the Australian High Commission Tim Hiengs was also there. After offering condolences to the family on behalf of his Australian government Tim Hiengs assured them that the Australian government is working on the case and the guilty would be punished. One wonders that in the last one year over two dozen Indians were killed in racist attacks. Had these attacks occurred in some Islamic country, these attacks would have been attributed to terrorism and after dubbing culprits as terrorists, they must have been arrested along with their family members by now. India and Australia never enjoyed cordial relations; the recent killing of another Indian student has further aggravated their relations. Garg, a 21 years old accounting graduate was knifed in West Footscray in Australia while on way to work. India has strongly condemned racial attacks on Indian citizens in Australia. In the same context Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna have warned Australia that they are morally bound to investigate and bring the culprits to book. However, Australia is hesitant in taking action although the recent events of attacks on Indians could vitiate relations between the two countries. India's High Commissioner Sujatha Singh in Canberra has also taken up the issue with the Australian government in the strongest possible terms. Although Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has condemned the incident but results seem not different from previous Indian protests on killing of dozens of Indian students. The Australian Police have already announced their view that the attack on Garg was not racist in nature. Federation of Indian Students of Australia in Melbourne is also exerting pressure on the Australian government but all in vain. Despite Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's last year visit the relations between both the countries remained tense. Australia, which is facing severe financial crisis, intends to maintain cordial relations with New Delhi but the racial trend against Indians in Australia is developing suspicions. During Rudd's last year visit to India, both countries developed understandings, especially over New Delhi's demand that Australia must back its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks and India's role in Afghanistan. Australia being one of the largest contributors to international forces in Afghanistan can play a major role in allowing New Delhi to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan. However, Rudd's Labour government reluctance to sell uranium to India unless India signs Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has created suspicions in New Delhi about Australian future intentions against India. It is interesting to note that despite India having acquired a waiver last year from NSG for nuclear commerce, Australia has refused to sell uranium to India. Earlier, the Labour government reaffirmed the former Australian Prime Minister Howard government's commitment to supply about 20,000 tonnes of uranium a year to China, beginning 2010. If we peep into the history, we would find that India and Australia were traditional enemies. There was a time during cold war and even after that when 70 per cent of Indian Navy was earmarked against Australia. In fact India claims a large number of Australian territories and believes that Australian white racist regime killed the legitimate Indian citizens of Australia and occupied their land and islands. India believes that Australia belongs to aborigines. The tension between India and Australia continued, so much so that for decades Australians doubted every move of India. It was countries like Pakistan which persuaded Australia to maintain friendly relations with India. The relations between India and Australia improved gradually and few years back witnessed golden era. However, Australia under sitting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd moved to an unannounced anti-India position. It is expected that during the next two years the relations between both the countries would further deteriorate and reach to the brink of open hostility. Obviously, the Australian policy is travelling down the roots but as so-called civilized country, Australia would never admit its anti-India racist approach. Last year's official estimates suggest that there are about 4.75 lakh foreign students enrolled in Australian universities, Indians numbering over 80,000, formed the second largest group. According to Australian Education International, the enrolment of Indian students in Australian universities showed an increase of around 40 per cent in 2009 as compared to figures recorded in 2008. Despite India being major contributor to Australian education industry, Indian students are subjected to racial discrimination. Till todate majority of Indian population is friendly to foreigners because they don't know the real face of foreigners behind their decorated masks. If we recall, last year, the Australian intelligence in collaboration with CIA in order to save Australia from the blame of racist and terrorist country kidnapped Adepu Srikanth, a 23-year-old software engineer from Kothagudem, who was working at KISL Technologies in Kuala Lumpur. Srikanth's mobile and laptop was there in office but he is missing since May 22. The motive behind kidnapping was to give an impression that Indians are disliked world over. It is not only Australia where Indians were targeted; the Indian students in US also experienced similar terrorist attacks by White Americans. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveyed Indian concerns over phone to Australian Premier Kevin Rudd and the Australian High Commissioner in Delhi was summoned to the Foreign Office to lodge concern with his Australian counterpart. Although Prime Minister Rudd also condemned the attacks and the First Secretary in the Australian High Commission Tim Hiengs has assured that the Australian government is working on the case and the guilty would be punished but efforts are not being made to stop terrorism against Indian nationals and such incidents are being confused with normal offences like violence and attempted murders. Analysts back in India are predicting that Australia must watch its steps otherwise India which is presently protesting through diplomatic channels may use other options open against Australia. Australian companies and business enterprises may also face problem if Australia fails to take stern action to neutralize terrorism against Indians in Australia.

Comments