PM 'appalled' at attacks on Indian students in Australia

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he was "appalled" at the attacks on Indian students in Australia, some of which are "racist" in nature, and proposed to involve himself in a high-level engagement with that country on the issue.     

"I have been appalled by the senseless violence and crime, some of which are racist in nature," Singh said while replying to a debate on the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament.     

The Prime Minister said he was willing to "engage in a high-level dialogue" with the Australian leadership to take stock of the situation and provide adequate security to Indian students.     

Singh said he had already spoke to his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd who has condemned and deplored the attacks.     

"He (Rudd) has assured me that any racist attack against Indian students will be sternly dealt with," he said.     

The Prime Minister also asked the media has to be mindful of the fact that there are over two lakh Australian citizens of Indian origin.     

"The media has to be mindful of this fact and not willy-nilly create a situation that these citizens become targets of racial attacks," Singh said.