Chandigarh- An Indian-origin man was allowed to speak briefly at an anti-immigration rally in Australia on September 1 but was later forcibly removed from the stage after his remarks caused a ruckus among the crowd. The Indian-origin man was wearing a yellow T-shirt with ‘Australia’ written on it. “He looks like a foreigner. He said he wanted to speak,” the organisers said.
He took the microphone and started speaking.
“Yes, I am a BROWN MAN. Yes, I am an immigrant from India but I am here for the right reasons. What I am seeing today is not immigration. It is an open-door policy. They are not integrating into our culture, they are distorting it,” he said. Before he could move forward, he was pushed aside and the microphone was taken from him. Despite the obstruction, he managed to say that immigration is not about taking but giving. Not demanding but respecting. The video of the incident is going viral on social media.
The rally was part of the ‘March for Australia’ protests across the country where protesters opposed immigration policies. Organisers highlighted the sharp increase in migration from India since 2020. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemned the incidents, saying, “Our country has no place for those who seek to divide and weaken our social cohesion. We stand with modern Australia against these rallies.”
The protests come amid a political debate over immigration policy. Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price recently faced criticism when she suggested the government was favouring ‘Labor-leaning’ immigrant communities such as Indians.
However, after the criticism, she said, “Indian immigrants to Australia have a strong record of integrating, embracing our values, working hard in many sectors and becoming beloved and loyal Australian citizens. I greatly value my friendships within the Indian and Sikh communities.”