‘Government putting pressure on Australia to ensure punishment to guilty’

Demanding strict action against those involved in the latest fatal attack on an Indian in Australia, the Government today said it was putting all the “pressure” on the country to ensure punishment to the guilty.

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said India “has not exaggerated” the incidents, and wants Australia to ensure proper safety to its citizens there, who are facing a spate of attacks in the last couple of months.

“We are putting all the diplomatic pressure on Australia so that they catch the culprits of the attacks,” Ravi told reporters on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.

Ravi said the Acting Premier of Victoria, Rob Hulls, sent a letter informing him about steps being taken by his government to contain the assaults on Indians in the province, the epicentre of most of the attacks.

“We are very much concerned about the safety of our people,” Ravi said, adding that police was inquiring into the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Nitin Garg last week.

The killing of Garg drew strong reaction from the Government, and even prompted it to issue an advisory asking its citizens studying or planning to study in Australia to take certain basic precautions to ensure their safety.