Indian Australians Rise Up Against Racist Abuse: ‘We’re Not Just Migrants, We’re the Backbone of Australia’
- Thousands of Indian Australians are fighting back against racist abuse after being targeted by anti-immigration rallies
- Australian-Indian doctors, including Nisha Khot, are speaking out against the hate, saying they’re “tired of being made to feel like outsiders”
- The Indian community is demanding an apology from Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who sparked outrage with comments about Indian migrants
In a powerful show of strength, Indian Australians are hitting back against racist abuse after being targeted by anti-immigration rallies. Thousands of people from the community, including doctors, educators, and business owners, are speaking out against the hate, saying they’re “tired of being made to feel like outsiders” in their own country.
Nisha Khot, a gynaecologist and president-elect of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said she was “sickened” by the racist abuse. “We’re not just migrants, we’re the backbone of Australia,” she said. “We provide a vital service to this country, and yet we’re being made to feel like we don’t belong.”
Dr Khot was one of several Indian Australian doctors who wore traditional sarees to work in a silent protest against the anti-immigration rallies. “We wanted to show that we’re proud of who we are and where we come from,” she said. “We’re not going to let racist abuse bring us down.”
The Indian community is also demanding an apology from Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who sparked outrage with comments about Indian migrants. Senator Price refused to apologise, saying she was “just telling the truth” about the impact of immigration on Australia.
However, her comments were widely condemned by the Indian community, who said they were “hurtful and divisive”. Amit Sarwal, co-founder of The Australia Today, said Senator Price’s comments were “a slap in the face” to the Indian community. “An apology is not just about politics, it’s about acknowledging the hurt caused and showing genuine regret,” he said.
The anti-immigration rallies have had a devastating impact on the Indian community, with many people reporting racist abuse and harassment. Pawan Luthra, chief executive of Indian Link Media Group, said the community was “hurting” from the negative attention. “We’re not just talking about racist comments, we’re talking about physical abuse and harassment,” he said.
However, the Indian community is fighting back, with many people speaking out against the hate and promoting a message of love and inclusivity. Nadeem Ahmed, who runs the Indians in Sydney group, said the community was “strong and resilient”. “We’re not going to let racist abuse bring us down,” he said. “We’re going to keep speaking out and promoting a message of love and inclusivity.”
Pooja Vrat Gupta, a childcare educator, said she was “proud to be an Indian Australian”. “We’re not just migrants, we’re Australians,” she said. “We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.”
As the debate over immigration continues to rage, the Indian community is standing strong, saying they will not be silenced or intimidated by racist abuse. “We’re here to stay, and we’re here to make a difference,” said Dr Khot. “We’re not going to let anyone bring us down.”