Attacks on Indian students still on, says FISA

I / Melbourne April 10, 2010, 12:33 IST

Amid Human Resource and Development Minister Kapil Sibal's visit here to explore ways for collaboration in education sector, a top body of Indian students in Australia has claimed that the attacks on the community youths were still on but not being reported.

In an interview to Sky News TV channel, Federation of Indian Student Association (FISA) spokesperson Gautam Gupta said, "It's just that they're not being reported adequately and that's a big concern for us."

Gupta's comments comes after Sibal raised the issue of lack of credible data on the type of violence against Indians with Victorian premier John Brumby. Gupta had earlier told Australian Asia Network channel that the agreement doesn't go far enough.

"As an Australian, I think it's a great agreement. For Australia, it is good. It is good for Australian economy," he said, adding "from an Indian point of view, I think the Indian government should have asked for more safety and safeguards for their students in Australia."

During Sibal's visit, Australia and India have signed an agreement to boost cooperation in the education sector after a series of violent attacks on Indian students in Australia and problems with education providers which have strained relations between the two countries.

Sibal on his visit asked Australian universities to invest stating that India require 800,000 teachers, 800 new universities and 50,000 colleges and would require increased international cooperation and assistance.

"We can't do it on our own, no government can do it on it's own," he said.

Sibal also signed a deal with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Melbourne on Thursday to expand education exchange programmes. The deal was reached three months after the murder of Indian graduate Nitin Garg on his way to work in Melbourne.