HUNDREDS of Indian students and their sympathisers marched through Sydney yesterday demanding an end to racist violence and calling on the federal government to stop treating them like cash cows.

There was a heavy police presence throughout the march — in the early stages, police almost outnumbered the protesters, with eight police horses, several vans and dozens of riot squad and public order officers.

The strong police presence followed last weekend’s march in Melbourne, where 18 protesters were detained when they protested over a series of recent attacks on Indians, including two stabbings.

Community leader Moninder Singh from the United Indian Associations said attacks on Indian students were almost a daily occurrence.

“We strongly believe it is not a racial issue, but a question of law and order,” he said.

“Police have to take a more active position.”

President of the National Union of Students David Barrow said the days of international students being treated as “cash cows” must end.

He said Indian students faced systemic discrimination, including violence, overcrowding and exploitation.

“We need police to be educated about international student issues,” he said.

“The only fair education system is one that is fair for local and international students.”

A full report on the issues affecting international students, including a list of demands to government and educational institutions, will be released by the NUS later this week.

The biggest applause yesterday went to Navjot Singh, 29, who said he had been attacked recently and demanded that the many police watching the rally “go and do your duty”.

He said thugs were deliberately targeting Indian people, and in the inner-western suburb where he lived every single Indian home had been robbed. “The police are totally impotent,” he said.

One of the protesters at the march held a banner that read: “Why is Australia such a racist country?”

Master of ceremonies for the rally, president of the University of Sydney Student Union Ruchir Punjabi, said the protest had been a success, with many people managing to express their outrage at the attacks inMelbourne.

“The issues for international students have been building up for a while — safety, accommodation, transport, discrimination at work,” he said.

Credit: John Stapleton