Attacks on Indians in Australia show no signs of abating. In the past one month four Indian students have been targeted by gangs of Australian youths who have also hurled racial abuses on the victims. Indian students on Sunday gathered in Melbourne to protest against the repeated racist assaults on them. However, the rally turned ugly as police dragged away some of the protestors. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, under fire from the Australian Opposition, has said that there would be zero tolerance and racial attacks would be met with force.With over 95,000 Indian students in Australia feeling the heat, CNN-IBN show Face the Nation debated: Are countries like Australia still imprisoned in a whites-only mindset?The panel included Professor of Sociology at Institute of Economic Growth Sanjay Srivastava and former diplomat K C Singh.Sanjay Srivastava, who has also taught at Melbourne’s Deakin University, in an article in the Indian Express wrote that Indian immigrant was a good, exemplary immigrant and that is why he has become a soft target.Explaining his views on the recent attacks on Indian students, Srivastava said, “When the Restrictions to Immigration Act was passed in 1901 (in Australia), it was said that what we fear is no so much their bad (Asian immigrants) qualities but their good qualities like hard work. I think that is part of the story especially in context of huge economic change. You have a new category of individuals going there. People are not going for MA or PhD but are going for professional courses. So quite often they are in direct conflict with a very large, young male population of Australia. But we must remember that most Australians are not like that.”There is also a fear among the Indian immigrants that of they make trouble they may be deported back.
“That's the impression given to him unless he gets cooperation from police. The voices coming out of Australia are that they are either not getting meaningful response, or the police are simply ignoring it. This may not be racist but economic contraction is taking place and these kinds of crimes may be taking places against others also. Australian papers are reporting it. The ferocity of attacks and the way they are increasing may have racist dimensions to them,” said Singh.Till 1973 Australian government had a White Australia Policy and only white immigrants were allowed. As the country is surrounded by Asia and so there may be a tendency to be more white than whites.Singh concurred saying Australians think themselves as part of the western world. “In their strategic thinking they have always been part of the western world. From the mid 90s the economy globalised and their economy globalised. They become a great success story because of the demand for raw material from China and India,” he said.When pointed out that Australia has not allowed India to join Asia Pacific Economic Council, Singh explained, “They (Australians) accepted the quadrilateral dialougue between Australia, Japan, India and US which the Labour government has gone back on as they have corrected the tilt in favour of China. When the pie is large racist feelings go below the surface but when the pie contracts... that is when you are tested. This has happened time and again in Europe. During economic contractions anti-immigrant right-wing parties have arisen.”There is national mood on building a multi-cultural Australia. Australian government has already apologised to the "Lost Generation" of aborigines with Kevin Rudd describing it as a stain on soul of Australia.PAGE_BREAKSrivastava argued that the Australians are confused over their identity as a nation.“There is resistance in certain sections to a multi-cultural Australia. Under Paul Keating (former Australia prime minister) when things began to change there was some confusion. Is Australia an Asian nation or is it n European nation? Keating said Australia is part of Asia but that confusion lingers,” said Srivastava.Australia was also a place where people were sent to serve penal sentences. So is it trying strongly to establish its white credentials?“There was an attempt to be England. There was an historical anxiety that existed for a long time in Australia about what kind of society is it? It was seen as being cast away by mother England. So is it English or not?” said Srivastava.Singh drew a parallel between recent attacks on Indians students and the attitude of Australian cricketers. “Sledging is synonymous with Australian cricket. That’s been the secret of their success in tennis, cricket etc. But this is a phase and I don't think we should condemn whole of Australia for this. This is a small segment of vagrant population of youngsters who are combining with racialism,” Singh claimed.Blogs by some Australians say that Indians should not carry their culture but live like Australians.“Students going to Australia are not like students going to the US. Education is cheaper in Australia with a possibility of getting immigrant status. Most of them are from middle class and first time immigrants from their families. Why is this phenomenon so specific to Melbourne and not Sydney? In Melbourne universities are in central business district and students live in suburbs because it is cheaper. They are working at night, commuting late and when the police say they are targets. But that is not a defence. They shouldn't say that. It is the job of the police to protect,” argued SinghSrivastava concluded the debate saying, “I don't think they have any option. They have to be in vulnerable jobs. Many of them are from small towns and getting into jobs that may be in direct conflict with middle class Australian population. Many of them want to stay back in Australia.”Final SMS/ Web poll results:Yes: 72 per centNo: 28 per cent