'Aus exploring ways to enhance punishment for racial attacks'

NEW DELHI: With incidents of racial attacks on Indian students going on unabated, the Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that the Australian government was exploring the possibility of amending its existing laws to enhance punishment for racism-related offences.

"The proposed amendments (by Australia) would strengthen the police response to attacks against Indian students. It has also been contemplated to amend the existing legislation to provide for enhanced sentence for racism-related offences," the Ministry of External Affairs said accepting the "seriousness" of the situation.

Rejecting allegations that Government has been "mute and helpless spectator" to the incidents of racial attacks in Australia, the Ministry said "the Centre has been extremely concerned about the welfare and safety of the Indian students studying in Australia and has spared no effort in making sure that these students are adequately and properly protected and looked after".

The Centre was responding to the notice issued by the apex court for explaining the steps taken to ensure safety of Indian students facing racial attacks in Australia.

It said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself had taken up the matter with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd on May 29 and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had also intervened on the issue.