This refers to four Indian students, including Shravan Kumar who is battling for life in a hospital, being mindlessly attacked in Australia.
Apparently, the students were attacked with screwdrivers while they were partying over the weekend. Srinivas, one of the students, has reported that the attackers abused them and said they should go back to India. He also reported that the police had asked them to take care of their own security and even said they “can’t go on protecting each and everyone”. The attitude of the police in literally giving up and abdicating its responsibility is highly reprehensible.
Another student, who lost an eye in these attacks, has reported that medical attention to him was delayed by almost six hours.
Such racially-motivated attacks reflect very poorly on Australia. It is deplorable, especially in these global times, when people are travelling freely across the globe for knowledge, education and professions. This will cripple Australia’s image of a modernising country.
Harbhajan Singh, the Indian cricketer, was a victim of similar racial discrimination during India’s official cricket tour of Australia.
Such racially-motivated attacks need to be dealt with strongly. In these times, such crimes warrant punitive action. I am sure Australian students would not like reciprocal hospitality in the countries they study in.
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Indian students need to strongly reconsider going to Australia for higher studies in view of the rampant racism. These students are not studying for free or getting charity from the Australians. They spend anywhere between $30,000 and $50,000 a year, which benefits Australian universities and its economy. In view of the threat to life and limb, these students are better off spending this money and studying in Europe and the US. Why study in a country which, instead of being grateful for the foreign exchange it earns through students, is beating them up savagely?
Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai