Church in India, Australia bands against racial attacks on students

Amid the recent spate of racial attacks on Indian students in Australia, a dominant Protestant denomination along with its counterpart in Australia, joined hands to condemn and initiate measures to address the growing outrage.

Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, general secretary of the Church of North India (CNI), and his counterpart Rev. Philip Huggins of Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, met at the recently concluded Asian Ecumenical Officers' meeting in Jakarta.

Both mooted on measures to combat the alleged racial discrimination that has shaken the Indian student community and has triggered massive protests across the sub-continent.

Rev. Pradhan enquired about the safety of Indian students in Australia and the measures the Church has initiated in that regard. They condemned the racial assaults and consented that Church has a role in building peace and harmony among communities.

Last two months, there have been reports of over 20 Indian students attacked, some seriously injured and others still recuperating in hospitals. There is an estimated 95,000 Indian students in Australia, making it the second largest foreign population after the Chinese.

Responding to the frequent attacks and the negative publicity about Melbourne, Bishop Huggins said he has called on Melbournians to reclaim the city's reputation as a safe, welcoming community with a strong multicultural heritage. He also informed his counterpart that they were initiating measures to make students feel safer and more at home.

One of the initiatives is a concerted peace rally among the members of the Anglican Diocese. The "Walk for Harmony" on July 12 will commence from Carlton Gardens, proceeding through the city to Federation Square. The walk together "will affirm racial harmony in multi cultural Victoria."

According to the Victoria Police Commission, there are 1,083 cases of robbery and assault reported against Indians in 2007-08, and the attacks have increased to 1,447 over the same period last year.

The recent most serious case was of 25-year-old Shravan Kumar who is in a critical condition after being stabbed with a screwdriver by a group of teens and Rajesh Kumar, who suffered 30 per cent burns after a petrol bomb was hurled at him in his home in Sydney.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna will undertake a visit to Australia some time next month. During his travel he will also verify a media report that claims 27 Indian students had died there last year due to various causes.