UIA confronts CG Amit Dasgupta

The United Indian Associations (UIA) has recently challenged Consul General Amit Dasgupta on a number of issues, the dominant one being the Consul General’s public announcements of ensuring that Indian restaurant owners pay their employees wages as per Australian law.

In a tersely worded email, Rohitas Batta (Chair Community and Students Liasion Committee, UIA) stated, “We look forward to your role as a neutral diplomat who may either assist to cement any differences within community groups (rather than aggravating), or keep distance as has been done by previous diplomats”.

UIA Secretary Moninder Singh has confirmed that the UIA Governing Council including President Aruna Chandrala, Dilip Chopra, Sunil Srivastava, Sunil Salunke and Logessan Pillay, agree with Mr Batta’s views. While on the surface protocol is being maintained, it seems that severe tensions are simmering behind the scenes at what is seen by UIA as an interference by CG Amit Dasgupta in areas where he has no jurisdiction.

Mr Dasgupta has come out publicly urging Indian restaurant owners and other employers of Indian students to conform to the law with respect to their employment conditions. He has expressed his concern that one of the reasons that Indian students are forced to work more than other international students is that they are being exploited by their very own.

“By paying our students their just wages, we will ensure that there is less exploitation within the community, and students are more stable financially. This will assist in creating a safer working environment for these Indians,” Amit Dasgupta has stated.

The UIA has expressed its dissatisfaction with these statements by the Consul General. Speaking to Indian Link, Secretary Moninder Singh expressed discomfort at the public articulation by the CG of these views.

“It will appear to most Australians then that all Indian restaurant owners exploit Indian students. This is not the case and so should not be portrayed as such”, Singh said.

He further stated that Indian employers, especially restaurant owners are doing a social service to the students by employing them.

“If not Indian businesses, who else will employ them? The importance of Indian employers has now increased tremendously as under the new rules each student doing trade qualifications must have one year’s full time job contract and get his / her skills assessed at the work place before they become eligible for migration to Australia. If Indian employers don’t employ these students, hardly any student will be able to settle in Australia,” Singh said.

This statement has been challenged by Consul General Amit Dasgupta.

“There are Indian restaurants who have combined commerce with morality. Though the jurisdiction of implementing the issues regarding work conditions rests with the NSW government, it is also within my jurisdiction to advise these students to follow the law. Like I did when the demonstrations in Harris Park were taking place. I advised the students not to take matters in their own hands, to not indulge in any vigilante actions. It is an important issue that our students are treated fairly and we must be united in this endeavour. I see this as a matter of great distress and this should stop. I do not see this as social service at all – one can use all kinds of phrases to justify breaking the law, but it’s not the right thing to do.”

Amit Dasgupta told Indian Link.

He has also stated that he will only attend functions such as Republic Day, Australia Day, Holi etc if the organisers can guarantee that they have certification from their caterers that they pay their employees as per Australian law. Indian Link confirmed both with Yadu Singh, who organised the Australia India Day function on 24 January, and with UIA who held a similar function a day later, that while they had endeavoured to provide this certification to the Consul General, they could not do so due because the request came too close to the actual day of the function.

The Consul General did confirm that no such certificate was provided but still decided to attend, as it would have looked odd if he stayed away while many high- profile Australian guests attended.

“But I did not eat at these functions,” he told Indian Link categorically.

The Consul General has also met with leading Indian restaurant owners at his office recently and conveyed his concerns. He is pleased that most of them agree with his point of view of adhering to Australian law and ensuring that correct wages are paid to their employees.

The UIA has also criticised the Consul General for his handling of the VIP invitations to the recently concluded AR Rahman concert in Sydney. Organised by the Sydney Festival with the blessings of the State Government, the concert organisers had a specified number of VIP allocations for the day. These special guests were to be feted with drinks and nibbles before enjoying the concert in prereserved seating in the first 20 rows of the performance venue.

The Consul General’s office was asked to forward 200 names from the Indian community to join this special VIP area, which included the Premier Kristina Keneally and Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh. The list was directly forwarded to Sydney Festival authorities.

The UIA found that their role was marginalised in this event. UIA President Aruna Chandrala has told Indian Link, “It was regrettable that while this concert was announced on UIA’s platform by the Premier of NSW, we were unable to take an active role in coordinating any aspect of it.”

Consul General Amit Dasgupta has said that the Consulate was asked to provide an official list by the AR Rahman organisers, which it did as requested.

“I took a very clear and transparent decision on how the names were selected. I am quite happy and comfortable with the list from the Consulate. Names were included of the presidents of all associations. There were those who had complained that their names were not included but it is not for the Consulate to go around and find out if the person continues to be the president of that association. If there is an election, then it would be a dignified practice that my office be informed. There is a case where an invitation was sent out to a person who was a past President but he refused to give it to the current President. Now that is not a situation I can deal in,” Amit Dasgupta told Indian Link

Pawan Luthra