Sushma Swaraj writes to 7 CMs on Africans’ safety

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has written to seven chief ministers of states where a large numbers of Africans stay, saying that even the actions of individuals are affecting the image of the country. The ministry of external affairs also said the issue of attacks on Africans “would not cast a shadow” on President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to west Africa. India is planning a huge showcasing of “African soft power” in the form of African films, music, dance and sport. The plan is to take African cultural performances from the auditorium to the streets of cities where a large numbers of Africans reside so that the local Indian population is exposed to African culture and develops a better understanding of it. MEA officials said that apart from criminal acts, there are other factors such as “prejudice, ignorance and cultural differences” that contribute to cases of friction between Africans and the local Indian population.

The MEA on Wednesday outlined the steps on “sensitisation” that it had undertaken recently. Senior MEA officials said Ms Swaraj had written to the CMs of Karnataka (Bengaluru), Maharashtra (Pune), Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (Noida and Greater Noida), Tamil Nadu (Chennai), Telangana (Hyderabad) and Goa.

Meanwhile, Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday said all foreigners, including Nigerians, are welcome in the state which is committed to providing security to everyone. Mr Parsekar’s remarks came in the wake of his recent remark that the people of the state are in general unhappy with Nigerians and former Goa CM Ravi Naik’s remark on Tuesday that the Centre should ban Nigerians from entering India.

“Goa is a tourist state. How can we ask someone not to come or ban them Everyone is welcome in Goa — be it Nigerians or (other) Africans. We will provide security to everyone.