NEW DELHI: The Australian government should take “strict action” to prevent unabated attacks on Indians, which are hurting the image of that

country, Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said today.

“These attacks are condemnable and the government there should see that such incidents do not happen,” she told reporters here after flagging off a special Hazrat Nizamuddin- Thiruvanathapuram ‘Go Kerala’ Rajdhani Express.

“Due to such kind of incidents, the image of a country changes. Australia and India have very good ties but such attacks raise questions in the minds of people. The government should take strict action to prevent such incidents so that everybody feels secure there,” she said.

When asked about reports that Indian students are coming back to the country from Australia, the Minister said, “We want the government to take effective steps for safety of tourists, students or others”.

To a question whether special safety measures should be taken for Australian visitors during the coming Commonwealth Games, Selja said the government always takes steps to ensure security for tourists.

“We always discuss the issue with states and say that safety measures should be taken for any foreign tourist or domestic travellers going from one part of the country to another. The inter-state regional conference of tourism ministers of southern states yesterday also discussed the issue. We will take the necessary steps,” she said.

About Shiv Sena threat not to allow Australian cricketers in IPL to play in Mumbai, the minister said, “The Sena issues such statements from time to time. They do not have a positive attitude. They do not work to integrate the country.”

source: TOI

A 29-year-old man was attacked and set on fire by four men on Saturday.

According to police, an Indian couple had left a dinner party in Essendon between 1.30am and 2am on Saturday to drive to their nearby home in Grice Crescent in the suburbs of Melbourne.

As the man was getting out of the car, four men attacked him, pushed him back against the vehicle and poured a fluid on him.

One of the men then ignited the fluid with a lighter before all the four attackers fled.

The man suffered 15 per cent burns on his body including his arms, chest and face. His condition is stated to be critical.

The arson and explosives squad of Australian police is investigating the attack. The police claim they are not sure why the Indian was targeted.

This attack comes nearly a week after 21-year-old Indian man Nitin Garg was stabbed to death on his way to work in West Footscray.

Nitin’s death has sparked an outrage and has led to a diplomatic row between Indian and Australia over continuing race attacks Down Under.

MELBOURNE – Australia’s 15-man World Cup squad, due to be named on Tuesday, will include the names of most of the players who participated in the one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE, said stand-in captain Michael Clarke.
Clarke is confident that the Australians have gained from being together as a unit.

“I think we’ll have the advantage because we’re playing as a squad, as a team. A lot of these guys are going to be involved in the Twenty20 World Cup and there’s nothing better than playing with your mates for your country. To me, that’s the opportunity that’s presented to us at the moment. We’re doing very well, we get a couple of weeks off back at home then we go as a squad,” Fox Sports quoted Clarke, as saying.

Clarke, however, said that the selectors could bring in some different players in the World Twenty20 squad, as the tournament would be played in vastly different conditions, but added it was always valuable to enter a tournament in winning form.

“England will be a completely different format, but any time you’re winning you certainly take positives out of that,” he said.