Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (52) said on Thursday he was “disgusted” and “deeply disturbed” by the attacks on Indian students in his country.
Speaking at the Indian Council of World Affairs, Rudd, who is on an official visit, said: “These attacks will not be tolerated. We are
working to make sure everything is done to protect overseas students.”
Nearly 100 Indian students have been assaulted in Australia in recent times, including 83 during a 52-day period between May 25 and July 15.
Rudd, however, never once acknowledged there could be a racial element in the attacks, as many students have alleged.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too took up the matter with Rudd when the two leaders met for bilateral talks later. “I have conveyed my concern,” said Singh.
Australia has become an increasingly popular destination for Indians, with 97,035 students currently there, the largest number outside the US.