From correspondents in Delhi, India, 05:31 PM IST

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Friday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and appealed to him to set up a grievance response mechanism in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) for Indian students abroad.

He expressed concern over racial attacks on Indian students in Australia and said there should be a joint meeting of Australia high commissioner in India, MEA officials and parents of students in major cities of the country, including Gujarat.

An official statement from the Gujarat Information Centre said: 'The prime minister also shared this concern and assured that all possible steps are being taken in this regard.'

During the 30-minute meeting, Modi said the issue should be tackled diplomatically and the Australian government should ensure the safety of the Indian students.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)