Political parties in Punjab have joined hands in condemning the killing of Indian-origin bus driver Manmeet Alisher in Australia’s Brisbane city.

Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday strongly condemned it describing the attack as “inhuman, brutal and extremely worrying”. He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue of safety and security of minorities, especially of Punjabi diaspora, with his Australian counterpart.

Punjabis have been living in Australia and many other countries for decades and are “most civilized and productive members” of the local society, Badal said in a statement.

He said the attack was “shocking and totally unacceptable” as the mass contribution of Punjabis was acknowledged and highly lauded by Governments as well as political and social leaders in the countries they leave.

The Chief Minister has asked the Centre to press the Indian High Commissioner in Australia to ensure safety and security of Punjabis living in the country.

Aam Aadmi Party also consoled Alisher’s death. The party’s election campaign Committee Chairman and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann said the untimely death of Alisher came as a bolt from the blue and described it as “personal loss”.

Being from his constituency Sangrur, Alisher was close to him and organised his many party programmes in Australia during his visit, he said.

Mann demanded that Indian authorities must talk to the Australian authorities to find out the reason behind the attack. He said Indian people staying abroad are the integral part of India and should be provided security by the concerned authorities.

Earlier Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh demanded the Australian Government to conduct a high-level investigation into the incident and ensure the safety of all Punjabi and Indian immigrants settled there.

Expressing condolence to the bereaved family of Manmeet Dilshar, Capt Amarinder said that he would also urge the Centre to raise this issue on diplomatic level as well.

In a horrific incident, a 29-year-old Indian-origin bus driver, Manmeet Alisher, was burned to death when a man poured some flammable liquid on him in front of several passengers in Australia’s Brisbane city.

Alisher, a well-known singer in the Punjabi community, was driving a Brisbane City Council bus when he was targeted by the man who threw an “incendiary device” at him which sparked the fire.

The victim, who died on the spot, belonged to Alisher village of Sangrur district in Punjab.