Krishna conveys New Delhi’s concern over attacks on Indian students to Oz authorities

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Australian government would ensure that student victims of racist attacks either get a seat in a different college or are refunded the entire college fee, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said here Monday. Gillard, who is on a five-day visit to India, was interacting with students of the Lady Shri Ram College.

August 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Australian has assured External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna during his recent visit to that country of taking a number of measures to ensure the safety of Indian students studying there.

August 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Monday asked the Australian Government to regulate the country's "dubious" private colleges, which are destroying the future of Indian students. "I think they (vocational colleges) are not only bringing a bad name to Australia but they are destroying the future of the younger generation of Indian students," The Australian quoted Krishna, as saying.

August 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE/INDORE - Two more Indian students were separately assaulted by a group of men in Australia. Gaurav Kakkar, a student of a hairdressing course, was attacked by a group of men on Friday when he was talking to his family in Punjab's Ferozpur from a local telephone booth.

August 9th, 2009 MELBOURNE - External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Sunday visited Sunshine train station in Melbourne, where several Indian students were targeted by mobs a couple of months ago. Krishna was briefed by a senior police officer about the extra security measurements taken at the station.

August 7th, 2009 Chaku Cairns (Australia): Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday assured, the visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna that all steps would be taken to ensure the safety and security of Indian students in his country.

August 7th, 2009 CAIRNS - External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Friday met his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith in Cairns, and discussed issues related to safety and security of Indian students in Australia. Following the meeting, the two ministers held a news conference where Krishna expressed satisfaction at the level of assurances that have been offered by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.

July 22nd, 2009 PHUKET - Ahead of Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna's visit to Australia Aug 5, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith Wednesday assured him that his government was doing everything possible to ensure the safety of nearly 100,000 Indian students in that country.

June 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - In yet another attack on Indians in Australia, a 22-year-old student was allegedly assaulted by a teenager in Adelaide's busy Rundle Mall. According to the police, the attack took place on Thursday.

June 4th, 2009 CANBERRA - China has joined India in asking Australia to provide improved protection for foreign students after a series of violent racist assaults on Indian students Down Under. "There are over 130,000 Chinese students in Australia.

June 3rd, 2009 WELLINGTON - Indian students based in Australia may opt to go to neighbouring New Zealand if the racially motivated attacks Down Under don't stop. Education New Zealand chief executive Robert Stevens said he had been in touch with the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise office in India yesterday, urging the office to market New Zealand and Australia as "totally different societies".

June 1st, 2009 LONDON - Indian students at Oxford University Monday joined in the growing protests over racist attacks on their counterparts in Australia, saying they are baffled by the failure of Australian authorities to take stern measures. Indian students at the University of Oxford strongly deplore the violent attacks on students in Australia.

June 1st, 2009 SYDNEY/NEW DELHI - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Monday vowed to punish attackers of Indian students as the police freed 18 students detained following massive anti-racism protests. Rudd told parliament in Canberra that he had spoken to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said Australians strongly deplored the string of attacks on Indians studying in the country.

May 31st, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has termed the attacks on Indian students a "problem" and assured that the government would do everything to prevent further assaults. "We have a particular current problem with Indian students," Smith told Network Ten.

May 28th, 2009 CANBERRA/NEW DELHI - The Australian Government on Thursday said that it will take steps to book the persons responsible for the attack on Indian students in Victoria, and added that it would take all steps required to ensure the Indian student community's safety in the country. Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education Julia Gillard issued a statement in Australian Parliament in which she said: "I want to send a message loud and clear that international students are very welcome in this nation and Australia will not tolerate discrimination against or victimisation of any of our international students." She also announced a new initiative: A roundtable of international student representatives to discuss with Government issues affecting their study experience.