Racism: Cartoon in Delhi newspaper offends Oz

Melbourne, Jan 8: A cartoon published in Delhi newspaper depicting a Victorian policeman as a member of Ku Klux Klan has offended Australia.

The cartoon, which came in response to the attacks against Indians down under, has 'deeply' offended deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, while the Victoria Police Association and Police Minister Bob Cameron have termed the depiction as 'wrong' and 'terrible'.

Published days after the brutal murder of 21-year-old Nitin Garg and the confirmation that the partially burnt dead body was of an Indian youth, the piece allegedly showed a person in a Ku Klux Klan hood wearing a Victoria Police badge, with a caption, "We Are Yet To Ascertain The Nature Of The Crime."

"Any suggestion of the kind is deeply offensive and I would condemn the making of such comment," Gillard said, adding that the Victorian police has stepped up and increased policing in difficult hotspots in Victoria where they have seen a number of violent incidences.

Responding to the cartoon with contempt Police Association Secretary Greg Davies said, "To say that our detectives are going slow on this, or for some reason trying to protect somebody, is incredibly offensive and wrong."

He further added that this is based on no real facts and that it was an outcome of a 'slow news day in Delhi'.

Describing the cartoon as 'outrageous', Police Minister Bob Cameron stated, "This sort of thing is just ridiculous, unhelpful, counterproductive and just plain stupid."

The Ku Klux Klan or Klan is a hate group which believes in white supremacy and practises violence to ensure the rights of whites.

The incidents of alleged hate crimes and racial abuse against Indians down under came to light in mid-2009. Since then the student community in Australia as well as Indian authorities have urged the Australian authorities to put an end to the 'curry bashing'.

OneIndia News