Chandigarh: Deputy Chief Minister and
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday urged
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to use every possible diplomatic
means to ensure safety of Punjabis living in Australia and
other countries.
Expressing concern over the killing of Rajpura youth
Lakhwinder Singh in Melbourne on Thursday night, Badal said
the incident had confirmed the fear that Punjabis were
increasingly becoming victims of racial attacks since 2009.
In a communique to the Prime Minister, he claimed that
there had been more than 100 attacks on Punjabis in the last
two years and the Australian government had not taken any
deterrent steps to stop such incidents.
Urging the Prime Minister to take up this issue strongly
with his Australian counterpart, Badal said security of
immigrants was the sole responsibility of the host country.
"It is a matter of great concern that Punjabis are
becoming easy target of racial attacks in Australia, UK, USA
and Philippines," he said.
The Akali leader also blamed the "weak-kneed policies"
of the Union government for spurt in attacks on Punjabis.
He alleged that the External Affairs Ministry had failed
in basic objective of protecting the interest of Indians in
other countries.
Badal said the Prime Minister should also consider the
possibility of sending a high-powered all party delegation of
MPs to Australia to inculcate a sense of security amongst
Punjabis there.
PTI
