Is India getting needlessly hysterical about the attacks on Indian students in Australia?

The spate of attacks on Indian students in Australia has made headlines for a year now. In the latest instance, 21-year-old Nitin Garg was stabbed to death in Melbourne by some unknown assailants while he was walking to the restaurant where he worked part-time.

Indians, both in Australia and back home in India, have been quick to spot a racial undertone to these continuing attacks. Expressing concern, India has urged the Australian government to treat the matter as one of utmost urgency.

Australia, however, insists that the country remains quite safe and acts of violence occur in big cities around the world, including in Delhi and Mumbai. Acting foreign minister Simon Crean urged Indian leaders not to "fuel hysteria" over the issue.

Is Australia right in trying to play down the issue? Are the attacks just random acts of violence without any racism involved? Would Australia have taken it lightly if Aussie students were attacked in India?