Noting that India was "deeply anguished" over continuing attacks on its students in Australia, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today said New Delhi expects "better measures" from that Government. "We are deeply anguished over the attacks.
India wants to see better measures taken by the Australian government," the Minister of state for External Affairs said. "We have conveyed our concerns at the highest possible level.
Our Prime Minister has spoken about it to his Australian counterpart," he said at a meet-the-press programme here organised by the Ernakulam Press Club. However, Tharoor said the Australian government has reciprocated with certain measures.
Referring to the controversy over his earlier comments that it was a domestic issue, he said certain remarks of his were taken out of context and "misinterpreted" by some people. "This is a domestic issue and it is not equivalent to the South African apartheid where we were opposing the measures taken by the government and in Australia we are working on the same side of the government," the minister said.
Indian government cannot protect their students in Australia as it is a sovereign country. In the same way, India will not allow foreign countries to protect their citizens in India.
Some of the attacks have racial connotations, he said.
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Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday to express concern on the racial attacks on Indian students in Australia.A large number of students from Gujarat are studying in Australia and Modi had come specially to convey to Singh,the fears and worries of the parents of those students.
India has appreciated the steps Australia has taken for the safety of Indian students, some of whom have faced allegedly racist attacks, even as it released a list of do's and don'ts for Indians studying in that country.
'We hope that the Australian government will succeed to stop the attacks. It is a terrible thing that the attacks are continuing,' Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters here Friday.
He signaled appreciation for the efforts of the Australian government and said that New Delhi and Canberra were in touch during the crisis.
'we have a cooperative helpful government (that is) trying to stop these attacks,' said Menon.
The guidelines issued by the external affairs ministry have also been put up on the website of the Indian high commission in Canberra.
It includes a comprehensive list of do's and don't's for the students before and after arriving in Australia for studies.
The students have been asked to make sure that they have adequate finances to cover their living cost. 'You may need at least A$1,200 a month for food, accommodation, transport etc. No matter what any one or the agent tells you, it is difficult to earn enough to meet all your expenses including tuition fees,' said the guideline.
On arriving in Australia, the students should send in their details to the Indian embassy or consulate. They should also get details on the security situation around the campus and accommodation, according to the guidelines.
'Don't carry more cash than required, especially when travelling alone or late at night. Avoid flaunting expensive items, such as mobile phones, iPods or laptops,' according to the guidelines.
Nearly a dozen Indian students studying in Australia have been attacked in the past month, with many alleging the attacks were racially motivated.
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