Mewa Ram, the father of Baljinder Singh the student who was stabbed by in Australia, has applied for travel documents so that he could travel to Australia to be with his son.
"I have been assured that I would get a passport on Tuesday morning from Chandigarh and then I would apply for visa. We alone know what we are going through. Every minute that passes brings awful memories of what my son went through. He spent two days in the hospital and we were not even aware of that. Had one of his friend not spotted him on television, we would have never known. When we asked him why he did not tell us, his reply was that he did not want pressure the family," Mewa Ram told rediff.com.
Baljinder, a resident of sector 8 in Karnal had gone to Australia to pursue a diploma in hospitality. Mewa Ram, a veterinarian, was at work when his wife came to know about the condition of her son."It was natural that she first informed me about it and other things followed later. If we look at the sudden spurt in anti-India campaign and other developments it would be more than evident that the whole thing is part of the deep rooted conspiracy. I do not know whether they would give me visa or not," he said.
Baljinder had planned to return to India around Diwali but looking at the circumstances he may abandon his earlier plans and return to Haryana along with his father.
Leader of opposition L K Advani condemned the attacks directed against the Indian students in various parts of Australia, in last couple of weeks.
"I am appalled by and strongly condemn, the series of racist attacks in recent weeks on Indian students studying in Australia. As many as 95,000 Indian students study in Australia. A large community of Indian immigrants also lives in Australia. The responsibility of ensuring their safety rests squarely with the Government of Australia. Racism is a blot of humanity. In the past it was a tool of colonialism, and gave the rulers a false sense of supremacy over the subjugated. It is unfortunate that this accursed relic of the past has been allowed to survive in Australia," Advani said in a statement released to the media.
He demanded effective steps by the authorities in Australia, including quick and deterrent action against those involved in the racist attacks, to instill a feeling of safety among students and immigrant Indians in the country.
