India has voiced its concerns about a crackdown by baton-wielding Malaysian police on ethnic Indians in Kuala Lumpur.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said New Delhi was disturbed by reports about the use of force against the protesters in the multicultural Islamic country.
"This is a matter which does concern us," Singh told a joint news conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in New Delhi.
"Whenever Indian citizens abroad or people of Indian origin living abroad run into difficulties, that obviously is a source of concern to us," he added.
The prime minister's comments came as a cabinet minister said New Delhi was taking up the issue with Kuala Lampur.
"The matter is being taken up through diplomatic channels," junior parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Pachouri told India's Parliament, where MPs have accused Malaysia of mistreating ethnic Indians.
A distant third
At least 30,000 protesters including women and young people massed last Sunday near Kuala Lumpur's iconic Petronas Towers – meeting stiff resistance from police, who beat them with batons and used tear gas and water cannon.
The rally was officially in support of a multi-trillion dollar lawsuit accusing former colonial ruler Britain of being at the root of Indians' economic problems by bringing their ancestors here as indentured labourers in the 1800s.
But it was more squarely aimed at the ruling Umno, which stands for Malay interests and has ruled the nation since independence a half-century ago.
While Malays control the political scene and the Chinese population is strong in business, Indians complain they run a distant third in terms of wealth, education and opportunities.
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