Concerned over the recent attacks on its students in Melbourne, India on Wednesday said Australia had the prime responsibility of ensuring their safety and bringing to justice the perpetrators of these assaults.
"We are concerned over these attacks, but the prime responsibility lies with Australia," Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters when asked to comment on whether there should be an independent probe into the racial attacks against the Indian students.
He said India has already made known its views to Australia and will do "whatever it can" to ensure safety of its nationals.
To a question on motives, Menon said he was not sure whether or not the attacks were racial in nature. "But these are crimes against our nationals and that is a concern."
India's concerns have been conveyed by Prime Minister Monmahon Singh and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna when they spoke to their Australian counterparts a few days back.
The Ministry of External Affairs had also summoned Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy to press Canberra to ensure safety of Indian students.
Helpline in Australia
A helpline was on Wednesday set up in Melbourne by four Gurudwaras to provide all necessary assistance to students studying in Australia as well as their parents in India.
The helpline which will be available from 10 am to 8 pm Australian time (5:30 am to 3:30 pm Indian time) will provide all help to students in Australia and their relatives in India.
The help line – 0061398941800 - has been set up by four Gurudwara Committees in Melbourne in association with Gyan Sewa Trust, president of the trust H S Phoolka said.
He said similar helpline would be set up in Delhi and Chandigarh also to provide assistance to students who want to study in Australia.
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