By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Monday held a protest against the recent alleged racist attacks on Indian students studying in Australia and demanding increased security for them.
Dozens of members of the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested outside the office of the Australian High Commission and raised slogans.
Four Indian students have been injured in violent attacks in the last three weeks.
Condemning the violent attacks on Indian students in Australia, BJYM’s state secretary Suresh Mann said: “We are concerned about the security of our 80,000 students in Australia. We want the Indian as well as the Australian government to act swiftly and provide assurance to the students and their parents.”
Highlighting the alleged lack of support by the Australian police, he said that complaints were lodged after the recent spate of attacks but nothing has been done about it. “The students are scared of the police and they feel marginalised. The police is biased,” he added.
Vijay Jolly, the convenor of the BJP’s Overseas Cell, said: “My son is also studying in Australia and as a parent, I am extremely worried. The students are afraid to step out at night. We parents are spending harrowing nights. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government must restore confidence of the Indian students community quickly.”
Later a six-member delegation, comprising parents of students studying in Australia and BJYM members, met the High Commissioner, John McCarthy on the issue and demanded quick relief measures.
“He condemned the attacks on the Indian students. He is aware of the cordial relations between the two countries and would like to maintain them. He offered to forward his recommendations and the BJYM memorandum to the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd,” BJYM president Amit Thakkar, who was in the delegation, told IANS.
Thakkar said they had suggested that a press conference be held to inform the people of what the two governments are doing on the issue. He said they had also demanded more policing in the areas where the Indian community lives.