Melbourne: 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 come 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
its 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.
PTI
