Attacks on Indians have dented Australia's image: Peter Verghese
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 10, 2010
Peter Verghese
Peter Varghese, Australia's High Commissioner in New Delhi has admitted on Saturday that Australia's image in India has been hit following the recent attacks on Indians.
Speaking to a news channel Mr. Verghese said that Australian government had taken a series of steps including increase in police patrolling, doubling the size of anti-robbery squads and changes in legislation to deal with incidents of urban crime.
He insisted that the attacks were "urban opportunistic urban crime" and not racist in nature.
However, India rubbished these measures. Vyalar Ravi, minister for overseas Indian affairs has said that Australian authorities are not able to ensure the safety of Indians in that country. He was reacting to the news reports on another Indian - Jaspreet Singh.
He asked Australian authorities must act tough against those behind these brutal attacks on Indians.
In a related development the remains of Nitin Garg reached India on Saturday noon. His family performed the last rite of the deceased at their native place in Jagroan near Ludhiana in Punjab.
