• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Login
Newsletter
NRI Affairs
Youtube Channel
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Student Hub
  • Business
  • Travel
  • Events
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Student Hub
  • Business
  • Travel
  • Events
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
NRI Affairs
No Result
View All Result
Home Uncategorized

Federal Minister Alex Hawke faces flak over Vishal Jood statement

NRI Affairs News Desk by NRI Affairs News Desk
October 21, 2021
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
0
Vishal Jood
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Advertisements

Many in the Indian community are disturbed by Minister Alex Hawke’s comments about Vishal Jood, an Indian student who has served a six-month criminal sentence in an Australian prison.

Australia’s Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke is facing flak for his comments on Indian student Vishal Jood, who left the country this month after serving six months of his 12-month-long prison sentence for violent crimes.

In a strongly-worded statement, the Minister acknowledged Australia’s Hindu and Sikh community leaders for their efforts to build cross-community unity.

I thank community leaders who have worked to build cross-community unity and resilience against attempts by a small minority to incite discord and disharmony, demonstrating the importance and benefit of our nation’s strong social cohesion.

— Alex Hawke MP (@AlexHawkeMP) October 16, 2021

The statement said, “Following his release from custody, the Australian Government immediately assisted an Indian national to depart Australia on the first available flight to India. The man was an unlawful non-citizen at the time of his arrest.”

Read Full Statement here.

“The Morrison Government takes very seriously its responsibility to protect Australians from non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct. We will always act decisively to protect our community.”

“Attempts to undermine Australia’s social cohesion will not be tolerated.”

“I am pleased that this unfortunate event has seen our resilient local Hindu and Sikh communities unite. In particular, I want to thank community leaders who have worked hard to support their communities in the face of these unfortunate events. Their efforts to build cross-community unity and resilience against the attempts by a small minority to incite discord and disharmony have demonstrated the importance and benefit of our nation’s strong social cohesion.”

“Irresponsible and ill-informed.”

Minister’s strong words have irked many in the community.

Journalist Jitarth Bhardwaj says Minister’s statement “is defaming the whole Hindu community.”

“Sad Federal Multicultural Affairs Minister othering Australian Hindu community and India,” he tweeted adding, “We demand an apology.”

Jitarth Tweet

Sydney Arya Samaj president Yogesh Khattar believes that the Minister’s comments were unnecessary.

Advertisements

He told NRI Affairs, “Minister Alex Hawke should have read the court decision before making such a statement. Furthermore, Vishal’s lawyer has also clarified what exactly happened.”

“There is no animosity between Hindus and Sikhs.”, Khattar added.

Barrister Amrinder Singh, who represented Vishal Jood in court, tweeted, “Selective, irresponsible and ill-informed tweets by a cabinet Minister Alex Hawke.”

Image 21 10 21 at 1.21 pm

NRI Affairs approached Mr Singh for comments but did not get any response. However, on Twitter, he said, “Vishal Jood was not deported; he was not dealt with based on animosity towards any community.”

Jood, who pleaded guilty to three charges, including ‘assault’, ‘occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of others’ and ‘armed to commit indictable offence’, received a hero’s welcome in India. Chief Minister of Haryana ML Khattar facilitated him after his return.

‘Criminal-supporters are defaming Hinduism’

‘Turbans 4 Australia’ president Amar Singh says the wider community supports Minister Hawke’s statement on this matter.

“At the end of the day, the Minister has to look at the wider interest of the Australian society here. So I think we endorse his decision, and we support it. People commenting on Facebook is straightforward, but if these people were the victim of the violence, then their attitude towards these people would be totally different,” he told NRI Affairs.

Mr Singh says the wider Indian community do not support criminals like him.

“It is a shame if our community accepts these people as normal community members. But I think it’s a credit to the wider Indian community for not supporting people like him. He didn’t have a current visa, and he will never come back. He was never part of a productive life. These people are harmful to the wider society,” Mr Singh told NRI Affairs, adding, “Australia is a fair and equal society. All the religions live peacefully here. There is no room for hate.”

HfHR

Some social media commentators have claimed that Minister Hawke’s statement defames Hindus in Australia. Advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights ANZ refutes these claims saying it is in fact supporting criminals that defames the religion.

“A person who broke the law cannot and should not be supported. The Minister’s message is clear. Criminals are not welcome in the country. Those supporting such criminals in the name of Hinduism are the ones defaming our religion,” a HfHR ANZ spokesperson told NRI Affairs.

Self-proclaimed ‘Tiranga Warrior’ Vishal Jood gets jail sentence
Logo2
NRI Affairs News Desk

NRI Affairs News Desk

NRI Affairs News Desk

Related Posts

Discovering India from Afar: Heritage Destinations NRIs Are Returning to Explore
Travel

Discovering India from Afar: Best 10 Heritage Destinations NRIs Are Returning to Explore

January 18, 2025
Top 10 Non-Schengen Countries You Can Visit with a Schengen Visa
Travel

Top 10 Non-Schengen Countries You Can Visit with a Schengen Visa

January 18, 2025
U.S. Consulate Opens in Bengaluru: A New Chapter in Indo-U.S. Relations
Other

US Consulate Opens in Bengaluru: Beginning of New Chapter in Indo-US Relations

January 18, 2025
Next Post
What are the options available to travel to India?

What are the options available to travel to India?

Extend visas for people stuck overseas during pandemic, Greens demand

Extend visas for people stuck overseas during pandemic, Greens demand

One billion doses vaccination

Scott Morrison congratulates India on scripting history

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

New Zealand borders will open from 27 February

As New Zealand reopens, thousands leave the country

3 years ago
Indian Cinema’s Global Journey Independent Gems and Regional Triumphs_NRI affairs

Indian Cinema’s Inspiring Global Journey: Top 3 Independent Gems and Regional Triumphs

4 months ago
Plastic pollution hotspots pinpointed in new research – India ranks top due to high levels of uncollected waste

Plastic pollution hotspots pinpointed in new research – India ranks top due to high levels of uncollected waste

8 months ago
Cricket Australia to set up India Fan Zones at all venues for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Cricket Australia to set up India Fan Zones at all venues for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

12 months ago

Categories

  • Business
  • Events
  • Literature
  • Multimedia
  • News
  • nriaffairs
  • Opinion
  • Other
  • People
  • Student Hub
  • Top Stories
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Visa

Topics

Air India Australia california Canada caste china COVID-19 cricket Europe Gaza Germany Green Card h1b visa Hindu immigration India india-australia Indian Indian-American Indian-origin indian diaspora indian origin indian student Indian Students Khalistan London Modi Narendra Modi New Zealand NRI NSW Pakistan Palestine Singapore student students travel trump UAE uk US USA us visa Victoria visa
NRI Affairs

© 2025 NRI Affairs.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Student Hub
  • Business
  • Travel
  • Events
  • Other

© 2025 NRI Affairs.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
WP Twitter Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com