The Hindu : Front Page : Akali leaders submit memorandum against racist attacks in Australia

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Akali leaders submit memorandum against racist attacks in Australia

Sarabjit Pandher

“Concrete steps needed to safeguard Punjabis against attacks ”

— Photo: PTI

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal hands over a memorandum to Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Chief Minister is accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal among others.

CHANDIGARH: A delegation of senior Akali leaders from Punjab led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, which called on the Australian High Commission on Wednesday, said the situation in Australia had assumed proportions of a grave human tragedy.

According to an official release here, the delegation sought concrete steps to safeguard the life and property of Punjabis against an increasing number of racist attacks in Australia.

‘Speedy intervention needed’

In a memorandum that was received by High Commissioner Peter Varghese in New Delhi, the delegation sought a speedy government intervention to ensure a quick and effective response to the situation. Mr. Varghese assured the delegation that the Australian government was fully alive to Indian concerns, especially those of the people of Punjab.

The memorandum submitted to the High Commission seeking to draw the attention of the Australian government, pointed out the latest incidents involved two youths from Punjab — Nitin Garg, a student, was stabbed in Melbourne, and the partially burnt body of Gurmail Singh, a farmer, was recovered in New South Wales.

These incidents, the latest in a long chain of such racist atrocities against Indians in general and Punjabis in particular, have sent shock waves through the entire State, the Akali leaders pointed out.

The delegation added that there was a widespread feeling among the people here that the Australian authorities had not done enough to provide deterrence to the racist and lawless elements, who were emboldened to step up their heinous crimes against innocent immigrants, the release said.

The former Union Minister and the Akali Dal secretary-general, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, general secretaries Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Prem Singh Chandumajra, senior vice-president Ranjit Singh Brahampura, and Member of Parliament Naresh Gujral constituted the delegation.

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