Indians to get 'maximum' security: Rudd

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

CANBERRA: Facing flak for the recent spate of attacks on Indian students, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has vowed to provide "maximum" security to foreigners pursuing education in this country.

"Any assault against any person or any visitor to Australia or any international student is one assault too many," Rudd told a visiting Indian media delegation here.

Quizzed over the 16 incidents of brutal attacks on Indian youths in less than a month, including two recently, that affected Australia's image as an anti-racist nation, Rudd pledged to provide "maximum safety" to foreign students.

"Let's be realistic. Obviously there has been a very large reaction to this (attacks) in India. Let's just call facts for what they are," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Rudd said Australia is "very sensitive" to the well-being of any international student in the country.

After a brief lull, attacks targeting Indians in Australia resumed with two youths from the community becoming the latest victims, taking to 16 the number of such assaults within a month.

"I take these things (attacks) quite seriously. I have discussed it with Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh as well. We will work our way through this. I have many many friends in the Indian community," Rudd was quoted as saying by another channel CNN-IBN.

However, he said he was "disturbed" by these assaults and that his government was doing "everything that is possible to maximize the security."