Govt intending to gag media on attacks in Australia, says BJP

BJP today accused the government of "insensibility" over the issue of attacks on Indians in Australia, saying this became clear when the External Affairs Ministry asked media to exercise restraint instead of finding a solution to the issue.

The party also accused the government of "intending to gag" media by asking it to exercise restraint in the coverage of the attacks in Australia and sought a categorical answer from the Centre.
    
"The most worrisome issue is that the Ministry Of External Affairs asks media to exercise restraint. We are concerned that when things are getting worst day by day in Australia, government is not accepting it and moreover it is asking media to exercise restrain instead of finding a solution," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here.

BJP also questioned the "diplomatic sway of India" and wondered whether the Australian government considers India as a "weak country". The main opposition party also sought to know if the government does not have the diplomatic influence
to get the "racial" attacks stopped.

"This is itself a big contradiction and exposes the government's insensibility. We are concerned about this," he added.

Rudy alleged that the government was intending to blame media for sensationalising the racial attacks on Indians in Australia, saying the fact is that it is media which is bringing the matter to light.