India to begin talks on social security pact with Australia

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the continuous assaults on its citizens in Australia, including killing of a 21-year-old, India will soon begin talks with the government there to sign a social security pact to protect Indians.

Expressing keenness to ink such a pact to ensure the safety and security of 2.5 lakh Indians, including 95,000 students in Australia, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said besides other things, the agreement will ensure orderly migration.

"Yes, we will do it with Australia," Ravi told media when asked whether the government was in the process of starting negotiations with the country for signing a social security pact in view of the attacks going on there.

India has recently signed similar agreements with France, Belgium and Switzerland. India is also holding talks with the US for a similar social security pact.

Asked about the killing of Nitin Garg, who was fatally stabbed on Sunday in Melbourne, Ravi said the highest authorities in the country had assured Indian government of full protection to the Indian students studying there.

Parrying a direct answer to a query whether Garg's killing was an incident of racism, the minister said "some of the incidents do have racial overtones."

Nearly 100 cases of attacks on Indians have been reported in Australia in 2009 as against 17 incidents of assaults in 2008.