‘Safety a matter for Governments,’ says Minister

Manish Tiwari, Member of Parliament from Ludhiana and official spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) visited Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra recently to engage in dialogue with the Government of Australia on a full spectrum of issues which cover the Indian and Australian relationship. He arrived in Australia after attending the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore. An informal reception was held by the Indian Consulate in Melbourne at Shiraz Indian restaurant, where the Minister met up with members of Indian community and local media.

Speaking at the reception held in his honour Mr. Tiwari said, “The Indian and Australian Governments need to explore and realize the full potential of a strong relationship between the two countries. There is a huge Indian diaspora in Australia that has contributed effectively to the Australian community and it is the collective responsibility of the Indian diaspora, as well as the Indian and Australian Governments to ensure that issues that have arisen in the past few months are resolved in a manner which is consistent with the application of rule of law across the board.”

Manish Tiwari is an advocate in the Supreme Court by profession and is also advisor to the Observer Research both the National Students’ Union of India and the Indian Youth Congress, mass organizations affiliated with the Indian National Congress. He was also President of the International Union of Students, a syndical organization of 152 National Students’ Unions from 114 countries, with its headquarters in Prague.

Foundation (ORF), a think tank based in New Delhi.

Suave and articulate, the Minister discussed various topics ranging from Indian student’s safety, Nitin Garg’s murder, influx of migrants from Punjab and the Commonwealth Games 2010. According to him, both Governments have to be proactive in ensuring safety of students providers, recruiters, law enforcers and anyone involved in the process of making sure that students who seek knowledge in another country are given the opportunity to assimilate in the cultural milieu of that country. He said both countries need to visit the issues in a profound manner and see how best they can mitigate concerns related to Indian students studying in Australia.

As Minister for Ludhiana constituency, Mr. Tiwari shared his experience of attending the funeral of Nitin Garg and expressed his sadness at the tragic loss of a young and promising life. Nitin Garg and his family hail from his constituency and the Minister claimed to have known Nitin’s family personally. “It was heartwrenching for the family to lose both the father and son within a year,” he said. “I will be meeting relevant authorities and police officials in relation to this case. It is imperative for any multicultural and pluralistic society to ensure that justice is given in a just and equitable manner according to the laws that governs that society,” he said. A few days after the Minister’s statement two young males were arrested in relation to Nitin Garg murder and are currently being questioned in children’s court.

Later that evening Minister Tiwari brushed aside any apprehension about the safety of athletes and spectators during the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in New Delhi. Insecurity, according to him, is a state of the mind. “If anybody was to come to India and see for themselves that we actually practice our pluralism in its complete manifestation and in its entirety, then all these doubts and misgivings will be completely removed. People must come to the Commonwealth Games. October is a good time to come to India. People should visit India and enjoy the weather and games and meet the people,” he added.

Preeti Jabbal