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Australia's assurance to prevent attacks on Indian students
New Delhi: External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna has said the Indian Government is in constant touch
with the authorities in Australia following attacks on Indian students. Meanwhile,
Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Sujata Singh, who met the Premier of the
Australian state of Victoria, John Brumby, in a press conference said that there
is a "racist element in some of the attacks" but many of them were "opportunistic".
She also stressed the need for strong steps by the Australian Government to prevent
such incidents. "It is my earnest hope that these attacks stop now. And that is
precisely what we are all trying to work towards," Singh added. In a statement
issued after the meeting, Brumby said the discussions had centered on the safety
and security of Victoria's Indian student community and further measures that
may be required to ensure their experience of living, studying and working in
Victoria was a successful and enjoyable experience. Brumby said attacking any
individual is abhorrent to the values and principles that made Victoria among
the world's most successful multicultural communities. A student suffered burns
after a suspected petrol bomb was hurled at him in his home in Sydney on Thursday.
In an another attack, hospitality graduate Rajesh Kumar received burns to 30 per
cent of his body when a petrol bomb was thrown through the window of the Harris
Park home he shared with other Indians. Karunanidhi's
son MK Stalin appointed Tamil Nadu’s Deputy CM Top Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin was on Friday appointed
as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. State Governor SS Barnala announced
the appointment on Karunanidhi’s recommendation. The appointment was announced
after his brother MK Azhagiri was sworn in into the Union Cabinet on Thursday.
Stalin became the Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration after
the 2006 Assembly elections. He also served as Treasurer and Youth Wing President
of the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK). Stalin has been elected four times to
the Tamil Nadu Assembly since 1989 from the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai.
New cabinet
ministers take charge of their offices Top New
Delhi: Newly inducted ministers took charge of their offices in different
ministries on Friday. Former United Nations diplomat and writer Shashi Tharoor,
who was appointed as the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs,
said he would work towards strengthening India's place in the world. "India's
place in the world is of great importance. India has had an honoured place in
the world. I wish to make my own contribution to strengthening that very honoured
place," said Tharoor. Preneet Kaur also took charge as Minister of State in the
Ministry of External Affairs along with Tharoor. Jairam Ramesh, who took charge
as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, is also expected to play a crucial role keeping in view the negotiations
on global warming which are on agenda later this year. Meanwhile, Kapil Sibal
took charge of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Petroleum Minister
Murli Deora and Minister of State for Petroleum Jitin Prasada also took charge
of their offices. Fifty-nine new ministers including 14 of the cabinet rank were
sworn-in by President Pratibha Patil on Thursday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
was successful in bringing the key allies to his new government. Singh's new Council
of Ministers includes 59 from the Congress and 19 from five allies- seven each
from the DMK and the Trinamool Congress, three from the Nationalist Congress Party
and one each from the Muslim League and the National Conference. | 
