India summons Australian HC over shocking racist slurs

New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Outraged over the racist slurs
by top Australian Police officers, India on Saturday summoned
its High Commissioner and sought an explanation on the issue,
saying such an attitude was "shocking" and a "matter of
serious concern".
High Commissioner Peter Varghese described the
incident as "unacceptable" and said one officer has left the
police services and another one involved in the incident is
facing disciplinary action in the matter.
The Victorian police officers have been caught in a
racist e-mail scandal joking about the electrocution of an
Indian train passenger and suggesting that it could be "a way
to fix the Indian student problem" in Melbourne.
In a strong reaction External Affairs Minister S M,
Krishna, who is currently in Bangalore, said, "Implication of
police officers in such behaviour, specially vis-a vis Indian
community in Australia, is shocking and a matter of serious
concern."
"Such attitude has no place in any society. We
understand investigations are already underway. We sincerely
hope that apart from taking action against concerned
officials, Australian authorities will also take necessary and
effective measures to address concerns about safety of all
people of Indian origin in Australia," he said.
Verghese said the Australian and Victorian governments
along with the Victorian police condemned the incident in the
strongest possible terms.
"The Australian government and the Victorian
government, the Commissioner of the Victorian Police condemn
it in the strongest possible terms.
"This is an email which is offensive...it is
unacceptable and it is completely contrary to the principles
of respect and tolerance we seek to embed in Australian
society," he told reporters after meeting Indian MEA
officials.
Krishna had directed the Ministry to seek explanation
from Varghese after emails containing racial slurs against
Indians by top Victorian police officers was made public by
the Australian media.
Varghese said the Commissioner of Police in Victoria
had said that he would be taking the matter "very seriously"
and disciplinary process was underway.
"It involves two officers. One officer has left the
police force while the investigation was underway. The second
officer is facing serious disciplinary charges," he added.
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