Indians in Australia feel like ‘criminals’ as government bans them from leaving

The words are in every passport but Australia’s Indian community claim they’re not being heeded by the government.

It is the express wish of the Governor-General of Australia, printed clearly inside every citizen’s passport.

“Allow the bearer, an Australian Citizen, to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford him or her every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.’’

But Australia’s Indian community claim those words are not being heeded by our own government, condemning the move to ban those in COVID-­ravaged India from returning to Australia as “prejudiced’’ — even though the decision was made to protect the overwhelming majority of our citizens.

The federal government has not only banned all incoming flights from India but has decreed that those who attempt to return via third countries will face hefty fines and possible jail.

Raj Barot from Sydney is desperate to visit his mother Meeta in India but he does not have $66,000 to pay in fines if he returns to Australia. Picture: Monique Harmer

Raj Barot, who is just poised to graduate from nursing in Australia, and is worried about his mother Meeta Barot in India who has Covid. Image supplied on Sunday, 2 May 2021.

“She’s been calling me, I’m her only son, she said, ‘Son come home, I’ve got COVID, life is short, I want to be with you’,” Mr Barot said. “It’s heartbreaking for us to think our parents might die and there’s nothing we can do because Australia will lock us up or fine us.”

But the government says the temporary decision has been made to protect the health and safety of Australians and prevent the chaos in India from breaching our borders. More than 400,000 people are testing positive for COVID-19 every day in India, and at least 212,000 people have died.

Marilyn Kharkongor who is studying a PHD in foreign policy in Australia is anxious she will never see her sick brother Faustin, and parents Lynette and Mark Kharkongor in Kolkata, India. Picture: Monique Harmer

Marilyn Kharkongor (centre) with her family L-R brother Faustin, Marilyn and parents Lynette and Mark Kharkongor.

Under the changes to the Biosecurity Act introduced by the federal government, it is a criminal offence for an Australian to enter the country from India.

The travel ban appears to directly contradict the Governor-General’s message on the first page of every Australian passport.

Denying any “prejudice’’, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia’s temporary travel ban was based on medical advice as the positive infection rate among travellers from India in hotel quarantine soared from about 10 per cent to 57 per cent in recent weeks.

Deepanshu Gambhir is keen to get to India to support his sister in Delhi who has Covid. Picture: Monique Harmer

“The burden that has been placed on the health systems in the states and territories, including through (Commonwealth quarantine site) Howard Springs, is a very significant one,” Ms Payne said.

“The decision to place a temporary pause … on returning travellers from India has been to enable our systems to deal with that. Absolutely not in any way (is it racist).”

The restrictions will be reviewed on May 15.

Harris Park restaurant owner Deepanshu Gambhir, 36, said his sister in India was fighting coronavirus and he had been trying for three days to hunt down a cylinder of oxygen for her.

Jeet Gujral, with his niece Shanaya. Jeet, has family back in India who have all had COVID-19. He would like to go back and help his family but realises that he would be fined. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I’m stuck here, there’s nothing I can do,’’ he said, adding he believed the government was “prejudiced” for being prepared to jail Indian migrants.

The parents and brother of Sydney PhD student Marylin Kharkongor were struck by COVID in Kolkata two weeks ago.

“I’ve managed to pay for an oxygen cylinder for my family,” she said.

“The Australian government is punishing us for caring for our families. It’s discriminatory to target Indians.”