Don't gag us, Indian students tell Victoria government

Updated on: Friday, July 10, 2009

Melbourne: A group of Indian students in Australia has denounced the Victorian government's decision not to allow them to speak at a harmony walk to be led by state Premier John Brumby on Sunday.

"The organisers of the walk have largely undone the positive efforts the government has taken in the last couple of weeks. It is unfortunate that the government is trying to exclude students from any meaningful discussion," said Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) president Amit Menghani.

"We support multi-culturalism, but we do not support politicians trying to divert attention and debate away from the victims, the unsafe streets, the rising crime rate and the failure of the justice system," Menghani said.

In the wake of attacks against Indian students over the past two months, Brumby had announced almost a fortnight back that the Victorian government would lead a Harmony Walk to reaffirm to the world Victoria's strong support for multi-culturalism.

"The Harmony Walk would bring together Victorian communities to recognise and celebrate the enormous contribution of ethnic, cultural and religious communities to the state," he had said.

"We support multi-culturalism. However, this Harmony Walk was called to express concern about the safety and wellbeing of Indian international students whose life and welfare is being challenged routinely by people who do not support multiculturalism. This walk should be sending a message to people who are rejecting multiculturalism through their attacks on Indian students," said Menghani.

Menghani has called upon the government to reconsider its decision to exclude Indian students.

"Excluding the voice of Indian students in the Harmony Walk and the related press conference will be seen as excluding Indian students and undo all of the good work done by federal MPs in India this month."

There have been at least 19 incidents mostly in Victoria state where Indian students have suffered assaults and insults from hoodlums on trains and streets

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Don't gag us, Indian students tell Victoria government

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