Physician, Heal thyself

Speed up investigations, Krishna tells Canberra

Special Correspondent


NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Monday urged Australia to speed up investigations into the recent cases of assaults and murders of Indians and cautioned that the non-redress of the issue could cast a shadow on an otherwise “excellent” bilateral relationship.

Mr. Krishna conveyed India’s sentiments when Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith called him over the phone, said official sources.

He conveyed his deep concern at the recent series of attacks especially in the last 10 days, which seem to have recurred after a period of relative calm of a few months. He reiterated the need for immediate corrective measures, pointing out that the issue had consistently figured in Parliament here.

Mr. Krishna recalled the repeated assurances by Australian leaders that the authorities were treating the incidents of assaults with the utmost seriousness and pointed out that the incidents, however, seemed to be continuing. He urged the Australian government to immediately ensure that the State police authorities concerned deal with ongoing investigations with “sensitivity and a sense of urgency.”

Mr. Smith conveyed his condolences on the deaths of Indians in Australia in recent attacks and noted that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard had condemned these attacks.

He said Canberra was conscious of the need for an early breakthrough in the ongoing investigations, and that his government attached the highest priority to the well-being of Indian students. “He conveyed his understanding of the spirit in which Mr. Krishna had underlined the government’s grave concerns,” noted a Foreign Office statement.

It is very easy to pint fingers but we must remember that when we point one finger towards anyone, three fingers point towards us.
I would like to ask Mr. Krishna and the Home Ministry what has come of the investigations into the assault of Biharis in Mumbai?
We know who instigated the turmoil and that person continuous to throw his poisonous ideas and the Congress government both in Maharashtra and in Delhi have taken no action.
Why?
Because it suited them for this divided the Marathi votes and they came to power on just that.
Don't point to Australia.
Look into your own states.
How are you treating the people of other states?
Sheila Dixit too has started echoing those sentiments and received congratulatory messages from the imbecile, Raj Thackeray.
When you cannot look after your own citizens how can you expect other countries to look after them?