Australia has hit headlines recently for numerous attacks on Indian students. But in an exclusive interview to NDTV, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says it's unfair to term the entire community racists.
Speaking to NDTV's Natasha Jog, Rudd says Australia welcomes India's contribution to their culture, especially "with our food."
Excerpts:
NDTV: Mr Prime Minister sir, how do you view these attacks on Indian students? Is this a bilateral issue between India and Australia or a domestic issue for you?
Prime Minister Rudd: Let's just be realistic. Obviously there has been a large reaction in India...
Let's call the facts for what they are. We are sensitive to the well being of every international student. All international students are our guests. We have the responsibility to provide them maximum safety.
If we look at the international comparative assault rate data for assaults and homicides, Australia is one of the safest countries Doesn't mean we are perfect. Any assault against any person is an assault too many.
NDTV: You have made many reassuring comments, taken action but its a sensitive topic back home in India -- even came up in the Supreme Court recently -- what more can you do, sir, to reassure students?
Prime Minister Rudd: Can I ask my Indian friends -- have you looked at comparative data about Indian students and their security in UK France, Italy and USA? Indians and international students are safer here than in most other countries. Homicidal rates in Australia are lower than in other countries.
In my conversation with PM [Manmohan] Singh I told him 20 Australians have been murdered, assaulted or were victims of sexual abuse in India. We don't blame the people or government of India. These things regrettably happen.
As PM my responsibility is to make sure all international students are welcome. Australia is deeply multicultural; we have a broad ethnicity.
Indian community has a vital contribution in cinema, music and food. We have deep affection for your cuisine. Imagine if we didn't have Indian food, we would have had 100 years of English food -- would you subject anyone to that?
