Asmall group engaged in racist chants, witness says
Kumar, who migrated from Dubai, relives his experience
It was an experience which left Krishna Kumar, a marketing professional who had moved to Australia only 14months back with his family, a bitter taste in the mouth. Having migrated to Sydney after working in Dubai for 15 years, it was Kumar’s dream to watch an India- Australia Test match — and things were going well till his visit to the ground on the third day.
“I saw the racist side of Australia for the first time that day at the ground,” said Kumar, 42, who was sitting with an Australian friend in the same stand where the troublesome group of home supporters were present.
Giving an eyewitness account to Gulf News over extended audio messages, Kumar said that while he did not specifically hear words like ‘ monkey’ or ‘ brown dog,’ there were enough expletives with racist connotations.
“I was present on the ground on first, third and fifth days. While the first day was uneventful, there were a group of five to six Australian fans on the third day whose intention seemed to be spoiling for a fight. They called ( Ajinkya) Rahane a sucker when he was batting and addressed the Indian team as curry- munchers,
Kumar was sitting with an Australian friend in the same stand where the troublesome group were present.
which is certainly seen as a racial abuse,” said Kumar.
“An Indian fans’ group, who call themselves Fans of India, seated closer to us got into a heated argument with them and for a while, it was quite an uneasy atmosphere,” he recalled.
Unsavoury act
“At one point, Mohammad Siraz was fielding close to us in the deep and I could hear the group uttering a profanity about his mother. For the first time during my stay in Australia, I could see this racist side,’’ Kumar admitted.
In an attempt to do his bit against such an unsavoury act, Kumar said he prepared a few handwritten posters and wanted to display them when he landed up at the Sydney Cricket Ground next on fifth day ( Monday) when the match ended in a draw. “One of my posters said, Rivalry is good, racism is not, while a second one reads “Brown Inclusion Matters # BIM”. I was stopped at the gate the content of my second poster met with strong disapproval and Iwas told that they would not be allowed into the ground,’’ Kumar said.