India to ask for steps to curb racial attacks in Australia

NEW DELHI: India will raise the issue of uranium supply with Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd during his visit, but doesn���t expect a positive response, given the stand of the Australian Labour Party to which Mr Rudd belongs. Mr Rudd, who is visiting India in the backdrop of attacks on Indian students, will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday for discussions on a range of issues. India has been raising the matter of uranium supply repeatedly in the hope of getting first preference in case the Rudd government reverses its policy of not selling uranium to non-NPT countries.

Indo-Australian ties have been going through a period of strain recently and attacks on Indian students have only added to it. Mr Rudd���s visit, which follows a string of high-level visits from Australia, is being seen as a damage control exercise aimed at sending the message that India is important in the scheme of things and that Australia remains a safe destination for Indian students. But that image is being threatened with spate of alleged racial attacks against Indians continuing. There have been around 30 attacks on Indian students with the latest reported last week. The Indian side is expected to take up the case of safety of students in bilateral talks and press for further measures.

���We attach the highest of importance to the safety and security of Indian students. The government of India, at the highest level, has articulated its views and concerns. The Australian authorities have assured us that they follow a policy of zero tolerance and have initiated a number of measures. Unfortunately the attacks have resumed in the last week or so,��� said MEA spokesperson Vishnu Prakash.