Australia should apologise to India: Haneef

Bangalore, July 30: Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, who returned to Bangalore on Sunday night after Australian authorities dropped terror charges against him, said on Monday that he wanted Australia to apologise to his "peace-loving country".

"I don't expect an apology from the Australian government or the authorities but I would appreciate if they apologise to my peace-loving country and citizens," he said at a press conference in Bangalore.

"I am not a victim of international conspiracy, but Australian conspiracy," Haneef said, adding that he wouldn't want to see anybody to be victimised in the name of terrorism. "My family suffered a great deal as a result of what happened to me," said the doctor, who was in detention for 27 days before Australia absolved him of all charges.

Haneef, however, said he would very much like to return to Australia and continue working as a doctor there. He said he was saddened by the fact that Australia had not reinstated his work visa. "I enjoyed working as a doctor at Gold Coast hospital," he said.

He also said that he wants to meet the parents of Kafeel and Sabeel to offer emotional support.

Defending the investigation against Haneef in Australia, Haneef's lawyer, Peter Russo, said the Australian Police had to follow certain guidelines. "He (Australian Prime Minister John Howard) has taken a certain view. He is the leader of a country," he said at the press conference.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday described Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef as a "responsible citizen" and offered him a job in a government hospital.

"Entire Australia and India sympathised with him," Kumaraswamy said of Haneef's ordeal. "The state government had very limited control over the issue. The government is fully behind Dr Haneef," he said.

"I appreciate the moral support extended to me by the state government and the Central Government," Haneef said.

About the offer, Haneef said he would discuss the offer with his family. "I will keep my options open at this point of time and would think about the offer and get back to government." He was speaking to journalists after a brief meeting at the Chief Minister's official residence, Krishna.

Haneef said he hasn't decided if he will sue the Australian Government.

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