Hundreds of Indians are becoming Australian citizens despite reports of violence against the community in the country.
India is the third most represented country in terms of people receiving citizenship, followed by Britain and China.
Alisha D’Souza, 19, and her twin sister, Binaisha could not contain their excitement as they took their oath at a citizenship ceremony on Tuesday at Brimbank City Council in Melbourne.
“We feel privileged to have been granted citizenship and to be more a part of this multi-cultural society. It took some time to adjust, but now we call this home. Australians are very accepting of different cultures.... Our parents felt that it would provide us with better opportunities,” Alisha, who is doing a bachelor of commerce course at Melbourne University, said.
In 2008-09, 9,088 Indians became Australian citizens.
Asked if the attacks on Indians had affected her life, Binaisha, who is doing bachelor of pharmacy at Monash University, said, “Neither we nor anyone we know have experienced such attacks, but these events have brought a certain degree of caution. These attacks are usually late at night and in certain notorious areas. The media doesn’t show the complete picture.”