President concerned about attacks on Africans

In extremely significant comments on Monday to Indian envoys, President Pranab Mukherjee expressed concern over the string of attacks on Africans in the country, saying it would be most unfortunate if the people of India were to “dilute our long tradition of friendship with the people of Africa”. He also said India cannot allow Indo-African ties to be jeopardised “and create a bad precedent which is not the ethos”.

The President advised that “appropriate awareness” has to be created “in the minds of our youngsters who may not know the history, age-old relations” between India and the African continent.

The President made the comments even as New Delhi on Monday continued its damage-control exercise to pacify African nations, with foreign secretary S. Jaishankar assuring African students that safety and security of the community is an “article of faith” for the government. This was on a day when a cab driver was beaten up allegedly by a group of Africans, in an apparent backlash.

The African students raised various concerns with the foreign secretary, including better security in the wake of the killing of Congolese national Masonda K. Olivier and attacks against the community. The MEA joint secretary for West Africa also met relatives of the slain student along with the Congolese ambassador.

The government has promised the strictest possible action if such assaults are found to have a racial angle. MEA joint secretary (W. Africa) Birender Yadav received Olivier’s family at the airport Monday and assured them that the government would ensure a speedy trial in the case and prosecution of all involved.