Kochi, Tuesday 23 June 2009: Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor here today said that the Central Government has raised the recent Indian students attack issue in Australia in its highest possible level and the Australian government is taking all the necessary steps it can.

Talking to reporters at the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbasserry, he said, “The Australian government is taking the necessary steps. We have raised it in a very high level and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has spoken to his Australian counterpart”.

“The Australian Government has the obligation and responsibility to do everything it can in its power to protect those people in its territory that has been the Indian position throughout,” he added

Regarding India’s recent action on the issue, he said that “As far as India’s action is concerned we have a high Commission and its like an embassy and two consulates which are very active to give whatever support it can to the Indian students in Australia”.