Identify racism first, says Indian elder
Neville Roach AO, an executive of the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) and prominent businessman, has spoken out about Australia’s handling of violence against Indians and says Australia must first admit the existence of racism before the problem can be tackled effectively.
“Indians have been told they are a soft target and they may be at the wrong place at the wrong time working late or going home late but no one is acknowledging that there might be a level of racism,” he said.
Roach admitted that the issued had been handled badly by spokespeople in the media. “When a police officer said that Indians are safer in Australia than India it is appalling … does that mean that we are satisfied with the number of attacks in Australia because another country might have more?”
However, Roach believes society is good in Australia, and that “at government level there is a good understanding of what is happening but it isn’t portrayed well in the media”.
Roach is part of India’s global advisory council of ex-patriate Indians and reports directly to India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He will also give an address next week as part of his duties as Sydney’s Willoughby Council Australia Day ambassador.
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