The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that the Australian government has expressed concern about the recent anti-immigrant protests held in major cities of the country.

The protests held in cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne on August 31 largely targeted Indian migrants, The Indian Express reported.

As of January, more than 9.7 lakh persons of Indian origin and non-resident Indians were living in Australia, the ministry had told Parliament in August.

Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing on Friday that ahead of the protests, the Indian High Commission had formally raised its concerns with the Australian government.

Canberra had “acknowledged that the protests may be concerning for Australia’s diverse communities”, Jaiswal said.

The Australian government had criticised the protests on the day they took place.

The country’s Home Minister Tony Burke said that “all Australians, no matter their heritage, have the right to feel safe and welcome in our community”.

There was “no place in our country for people who seek to divide and undermine our social cohesion”, Burke said, adding that “nothing could be less Australian”.

On Friday, India’s external affairs ministry added that senior leaders and politicians, from the Australian government side and from the Opposition, had supported the “multicultural identity of Australia”.

“They’ve also recognised the role played by the Indian-Australian community in the overall progress and development of Australia, and they appreciate and acknowledge this role very much,” Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal stated that Indian diplomatic missions in Australia are in regular contact with the Australian government and the diaspora, adding that New Delhi was “committed to the welfare and well-being of all Indians abroad”.

He added that India values a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Australia, “of which our people-to-people ties are a very important element, and in fact, it bolsters our strategic ties”.

Also read: Why Australia’s anti-immigration rallies are no aberration

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