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Sunday March 21, 2010

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Overland baffled at Indian protest timing

Posted by: By Ben Wise, 3AW Radio | 1 June, 2009 - 8:20 AM
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ABOVE: Simon Overland speaks to 3AW Breakfast.

Simon Overland is baffled as to the timing of the Indian students' protest in Melbourne's CBD on Sunday night, the Chief Commissioner telling 3AW the police force has been working on the issue for over a year.

"This is not a new issue to us, we have recognised for some period of time Indian stuednts have been targeted. Some of it undoubtedly is racist, and because they are Indians - but some of it is also opportunistic because they are on trains late at nigt and often travelling alone."

"They are being targeted - and whatever the motivation it's not OK. We have been working on this for more than 18 months - we've been working with the Indian Students' Association and and to be quite frank I am at a bit of a loss it has become the issue it's become."

When asked by Ross Stevenson whether the protest was 'hijacked' by people with different agendas, Overland confirmed this was the case.

"I was down there late last night - and there were clearly people in there who had their own agenda and had little to do with the issue confronting Indian students," he said.

"I think they're agenda is just to cause as much trouble as they can."

The Chief Commissioner says the force will continue to work through the issues facing Indian students, and reveals an officer is going to India this week to give incoming students 'crime prevention and personal safety advice' before they come to Australia.

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Why are they protesting?

Proests were carried out in India as well Neil Mitchell investigates exactly why Indian students feel aggrieved by the Victoria Police's handling of assault cases against members of their community. The argument for protesting seems to be muddled at best.

Blog comments Your Say

  • I am more amused than annoyed to observe the comments from some morons that the Indians are not needed and they should go back etc.. The huge economic loss Australian Govt may incur is besides the point, my question to you dimwits are - who on earth are you to decide who should stay and who should not. All races barring the native aboriginals are onslaughters in this country and equally deserved to be damned out, if the parity has to prevail. You don't own it and never will own it. The world is getting globalised. Any law-abiding, tax-paying, peace-loving human being has the right to live in any country in this world regardless of his/her race; and any unruly, law-breaking, racial minded, inhuman of any race does not have the right to stay in this beautiful earth, let alone Australia. This is the world of the new order and sooner we understand it, better it is for all of us. Someone rightly said - "Wiser heads will prevail", and I add to it - morons will perish.

    Rahul Basu Sunday 17 January, 2010 - 5:55 PM

  • It would seem obvious to all that we lack law and order if indians and such alike can show mob rule in the streets in protest.Let me repeat..you are not wanted or needed in Australia!

    pete Friday 12 June, 2009 - 2:28 PM

  • To Bob, June 6, You have no right to include me in your generalisation the "Australian Public" being VERY concerned about the increase in the number of Indian students. I am personally VERY concerned about the increase in the number of xenophobes such as yourself. I am sorry for you that your yearnings of a great career in a 7-11 store or a taxi driver are now just an impossible dream for you. Your pointless and pathetic sense of hatred you speak of which is building up inside you is worrying and perhaps you should seek some counselling for this. To Ben, June 5, Do you consider the Indian student at the birthday party who had a screwdriver shoved through his neck a "winger"? and those students who also rightfully feel threatened because of such attacks as "wingers"? Are you serious?
    To Michelle, June 1, Please do not lecture others to be "grateful" You need to learn to be grateful yourelf for having been BORN here and had the opportunities and security Australia has to offer (and that goes for Bob too) you are very, very, very, lucky. Remember it is all just "luck" and not what you neccessarily deserve.
    To Raj, June 2, You are definately an imposter and should also seek some counselling to deal with your buildup of anger and hatred.

    Kylie

    Kylie Wednesday 10 June, 2009 - 11:26 PM

  • Unfortunately, I think we have a lot of students who are here on bogus documents and that is part of the scam the government needs to investigate as report in the Age today.

    Wonder how many more have fallen through the cracks over the past 5 yrs?

    Bob Wednesday 10 June, 2009 - 3:02 PM

  • "The answer is that India is in a worse condition than Australia...poverty, violence, murder & disease is rife in India, they should be grateful for the opportunity Australia is giving them."

    Michelle, yes, India is in a worse state. But I disagree that violence and murder are rife here. Poverty, disease, educational quality are problems, not violence. India is one of the most peaceful places I know of in all my travels. I recommend you learn something about this ancient land and its philosophy.

    Andrew Tuesday 9 June, 2009 - 2:07 PM

  • I think targeting certain groups is intolerable and should be addressed in the overall scheme of things by Victoria Police as is being done.
    There is an underlying problem with the Indianstudents in particular. I think the Australian public are starting to become VERY concerned about with the sudden increase in the number of Indian students who will never return and become permanent residence.
    In the process they have taken over jobs as you can very clearly see in your everyday travels, and therefore I think there is level of animosity and hatred building up in general. The violence we have seen in the past few weeks obviously has been from selected thugs and groups, however, deep down there is a sense of hatred and concern about ever increasing number of student from India(mainly from Punjab).
    The question to raise is if there is a scam and racket going on where these student from India are coming in plane loads every week to do 3 to 6 month course with the intention of staying back?
    On Wednesday(3 June) on the Neil Mitchell show there was an African caller who raised a good question regarding how many students have returned in the last 5 years on so called 'student visa'. Good point, even immigration can't tell us that.
    Questions for immigration & Australian government:
    1. How many Indian students have returned in the past 5 years?
    2. How many of these students have filtered through the system who are thugs or ex criminals using student visa to gain entry to this country?
    3. How much many has been sent back to India by students working here?
    I think the Australian government is chasing quick money and sacrificing the future of this country for short term gain.

    Bob Saturday 6 June, 2009 - 9:45 AM

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