The BRICS TimesMEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that New Delhi remains in constant touch with the Australian government and community groups to keep track of the situation.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday confirmed that India is maintaining close communication with the Australian government as well as with diaspora organisations in response to the recent wave of anti-immigrant demonstrations that took place across the country.
Speaking at a regular briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the Indian High Commission had already expressed concerns to Australian authorities regarding the protests, which erupted in several Australian cities on August 31. He added that the High Commission has since received an official reply, with Canberra acknowledging that such protests could indeed be troubling for Australia’s multicultural society.
“We are all aware that anti-immigrant protests happened in many cities across Australia on 31 August. Our High Commissions and Consulate Generals were in regular touch with the Australian government, as also with our community members in this regard,” Jaiswal said.
“Before the protests took place, our High Commission shared the concerns of the Indian diaspora with the Australian government. We received a formal response from the Australian side, where they acknowledged that the protest in Australia may be of concern for Australia’s diverse communities,” he further mentioned.
The spokesperson underlined that India continues to remain in active contact with the Albanese government to monitor developments, ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian nationals.
His comments come at a time when anti-immigrant rallies have been gaining traction in Australia, many of them targeting Indians and raising unease among community groups and lawmakers. These demonstrations, mainly demanding stricter immigration measures, have been organised under the banner of the “March for Australia” rallies, reportedly staged in Sydney, Melbourne and other major cities. The events also witnessed confrontations between pro-immigration and anti-immigration groups.
Protesters at these rallies argued that rising migration levels have been placing strain on employment opportunities, housing, and public infrastructure. While the gatherings have so far remained relatively small, the Indian government has made it clear that it will not take any risks concerning the safety of its citizens abroad.
A separate incident during one of the protests has drawn widespread attention online after a video went viral showing an Indian man being heckled while trying to address the crowd. The footage, initially posted on Instagram, begins with an Australian man introducing the Indian speaker to demonstrators.
As the Indian man takes the stage, he confronts the atmosphere of hostility, stating, “Yes, I am a brown man. Yes, I am an immigrant from India. I came here for the right reasons.” His remarks, however, are met with boos from sections of the audience.
Despite the interruptions, he continues his speech, stressing that immigration should be about contributing positively to society rather than seeking special privileges. But as his comments go on, the heckling intensifies. An Australian protester abruptly seizes the microphone, cutting him off mid-sentence, which leads to chaos on stage and forces the speech to be halted.
Akshay Didwaniya
