Indian-Origin Woman Is Leader of Opposition In Trinidad And Tobago 

Indian-origin Kamla Persad-Bissessar has became the first woman Leader of the Opposition in the Trinidad and

 Tobago parliament, ousting former premier Basdeo Panday from the post.

Kamla was administered the oath of office at Port of Spain by President George Maxwell Richards at the president's house amidst loud cheers from the seven MPs, who supported her to oust incumbent Basdeo Panday.

Panday had been Leader of the Opposition for almost 34 years, minus the six years he was prime minister.

Kamla's ascent to the position follows elections within the opposition United National Congress (UNC) party Jan 24 when she beat her political mentor Panday ten to one in the UNC's national elections to choose a new leader and executive.

She emerged leader much to the dismay of Panday who had set the machinery for the vote himself but did not accept the result.

Kamla entered politics in the early 1980s when she became an alderman in the then St. Patrick County Council. She has served as a senator and then as member of parliament for Siparia.

In 1995, she became the country's first woman attorney general when Panday formed the government and later became minister of education. She was also the first woman to act as prime minister.

Kamla became Leader of the Opposition in parliament by getting eight votes -- including herself -- out of the 15 MPs of the party. Kamla has visited India on several occasions, attending the Pravasi Bharatiya conference in Hyderabad in 2006 and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meetings.

Her forefathers were among 148,000 people who came from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar between 1845 to 1917 to work on sugar plantations here.  

153 Attacks Against Indians in Oz In 14 Months

As many as 153 cases of attacks have been confirmed against Indian nationals, including students and taxi drivers in the last 14 months in Australia, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told Parliament.

In a written statement in the Lok Sabha, Krishna said the Indian government was "deeply concerned" about the plight of Indian nationals in Australia.

 "The government of India has reiterated that it is the responsibility of the government of Australia to ensure that such attacks cease forthwith," he said.

The Indian High Commission gave a list of assaults, province wise, from January 2009 to Feb 19, 2010. The Australian province of Victoria recorded the largest number of assaults during this period at over 122, including 49 against Indian students and 18 against taxi drivers.

Besides, there were 55 such incidents with other Indian nationals in Victoria, ranging from robbery to assault. While all the cases were confirmed, a few of the attackers in some incidents were also identified as "Indian in appearance." "At the instance of the government of India, the government of Australia has taken several important measures aimed at enhancing the safety and security of our students, both at the state as well as the federal level, which have been useful," said Krishna.

He added that the Indian mission was "proactively" following up these incidents very closely and has been in regular liaison with members of the Indian community.

Over 10,000 Join 'Vindaloo Against Violence' Campaign 

In a bid to show their solidarity and denounce spate of attacks against Indian community in Australia, over 10,000 people have signed up on internet for the 'vindaloo against violence' campaign.

Spearheaded by Melbourne-based web designer Mia Northrop, the idea has picked up strongly on the virtual world with hundreds of people signing up, 'The Age' reported.

The 35-year-old designer is hoping that at least 15,000 people will eat at their local Indian restaurants on February 24 to show their support. Dinners will be held in Amsterdam, Thailand, Malaysia and all Australian capital cities.

Northrop said she and her husband came up with the idea after reading about spate of attacks on Indians.

"We talked about the idea of a flash mob (assembling via SMS to perform in a public place). Then we thought: 'Imagine if on one night thousands of people did this kind of decentralized flash mob and all turned up to Indian restaurants as a way of embracing the Indian community and showing solidarity'?" Northrop said.

"I read that and thought, Right I'm definitely doing it," she opened a website, a Facebook page and a Twitter account and was "absolutely overwhelmed" by the response.

One rural Victorian family will cook an Indian meal at home because they're three hours' drive from a restaurant.

"I'm under no illusion that this is going to solve racism or or stop attacks," she said, adding "It's a small gesture, but when it's made by thousands of people simultaneously, I think it sends a really powerful message."