New Delhi, January 18
As External Affairs Minister S M Krishna headed to Australia, the Centre today reeled off figures, suggesting a sharp decline in number of Indian students going Down Under for higher education. Briefing reporters here today on Krishna’s three-day visit to Australia, MEA spokesman Vishnu Prakash and Arun Kumar Goel, Joint Secretary in charge of Australia at the foreign office, however, appreciated the series of steps that Australia has taken to ensure the security of Indian students there, bringing a marked improvement in the situation.

Goel was at pains to emphasise that the racial attacks on the Indian students was not the only reason for the drop in their numbers in Australia.

Krishna, accompanied by top officials of his ministry, will hold the third round of the India-Australia framework dialogue with his counterpart Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister, in Melbourne tomorrow. Replying to a question, Goel hoped Australia would revisit its stated position that it would not sell uranium to India, since it is not a signatory to the NPT. “The access to uranium is a core issue for India. We do hope they (Australia) will review their stand.”