NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday said his government will engage with Australian authorities in a “high-level dialogue” to ensure the security of Indian students in the wake of “senseless violence” against them.
The government also cautioned Indian students in that country to “show restraint” and not retaliate.
“I am appalled by the senseless violence and crime, some of it racially motivated, against our students in Australia,” Singh told Parliament.
“I propose to engage the authorities in Australia in a high-level dialogue with a view to taking stock of the situation and providing adequate security for Indian students,” he added.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said that the Australian government had given “fullest assurance” that steps would be taken to ensure the safety of Indian students.
“I would like to urge the Indian students to be patient and show restraint. They have gone there (Australia) for higher studies. They should concentrate on that rather than retaliate,” Krishna told reporters outside Parliament house.
Indian students have now formed groups to patrol sensitive areas in Melbourne in the wake of racial attacks.
