To: Shri Balasaheb Thackeray, Leader of Shiv Sena
The Federation of Indian Students of Australia deeply appreciates the moral support from Indian politicians and political parties including yours for the well-being and safety of Indian Students in Australia.
We know that you, along with the Indian media are sincerely worried about the welfare of the Indian students in Australia and are concerned about the terrible anxiety the recent attacks have caused to parents from many States in India, including Maharashtra.
This concern by our brothers and sisters in India is welcomed by students in Australia.
Now is the time for those Indians who have bravely stood up for the rights of Indians in Australia to also recognise that Australian Cricketers were the first Australians to voice their condemnation of the attacks on Indians in Melbourne. Great cricket players such as Mr Shane Warne had termed the attacks against Indians as 'atrocious and unacceptable' way back in May/June 2009.
We are therefore humbly requesting you, who have always supported the sons and daughters from all corners of India to drop plans for sanctions against Australian cricketers and instead allow the cricketers to take their place as champions of Indians in Australia.
It is the Indian student's strong desire that there should be no violence or protests against Australian cricketers and instead the Australian Cricketers should be invited to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Indian students and become FAIR GO Ambassadors for all Indians especially when they return to Australia.
If the Australian Cricketers are willing to give the Indian public through leaders of standing like yourself, a pledge to act as FAIR GO ambassadors for Indians and work to end the violence against Indian students in Victoria, as indicated by Cricket Australia, then all bans and protests against the Australian players should be dropped. If you can arrange these pledges and a dropping of sanctions then you will have the gratitude of over 450,000 people of Indian origin in Australia.
We hope that your party can take up this important step that will promote the security of Australian cricketers in India and that you will take the leadership position of recruiting the Australia's cricketing greats to defend the dignity, rights and security of India's sons and daughters with a concrete program of action back in Australia.
In Solidarity,
Gautam Gupta
Founder and Chair
Federation of Indian Students of Australia www.fisa.org.au
0061 413 211 534 / chair@fisa.org.au
No comments:
Post a Comment