There is no racial angle in the death of Indian Student: Australia
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 05, 2010
Australia on Tuesday said it will cooperate with the family of deceased Indian student Nitin Garg who was killed in Melbourne and assured that his body would be sent back home at the earliest.
Australian officials have ruled out the racial angle in the death of Nitin Garg who was stabbed in abdomen and died at Royal Melbourne hospital.
Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean told the local media that one must await the full details of the police investigation.
He also termed the delay in returning the body to Nitin's family as unfortunate. Mr Crean said the government had been in regular contact with Indian officials over the past one year on the issue of safety of Indian students in Australia.
He added that since Garg's death, Australian High Commissioner in Delhi had also been in touch with the family.
The failure of Kevin Rudd government to ensure the safety of Indian students in his country has become a major foreign policy embarrassment for him.
Last time when Mr. Rudd visited India this issue was raised by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in bilateral meetings.
Mr. Rudd assured that these attackers would be dealt with the full force under the Australian law. He said that all the Indian students are 'welcomed guests' of his country.
Nitin Garg's death is seen as yet another challenge to test the resolve of his government's ability to firmly deal with such incidents.
Earlier on Monday, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna reminded Australia of the economic fallout of such attacks. He said that issuing an advisory to Indians in the aftermath of the Nitin Garg's murder would be the last resort.
