Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the recent attacks on African nationals were neither racial nor premeditated acts against a particular community
Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the recent attacks on African nationals were neither racial nor premeditated acts against a particular community but spontaneous criminal attacks by anti-social elements.
She reiterated that in an effort to ensure the safety of Africans and avoid repetition of such instances the government is trying to accommodate in campus hostels the African students who are studying in India on scholarships. She pointed out that such attacks have taken place outside campuses.
“The recent attacks on African nationals in Delhi and outside were not any kind of racial attacks,” she said while replying to questions about the incidents against Africans.
“These were spontaneous criminal attacks perpetrated by anti-social and criminal elements. A sensitisation campaign is also being carried out,” she said.
To help prevent the recurrence of any such attacks, minister of state for external affairs V.K. Singh will hold meetings with the African community in major metropolitan cities where they reside and he will be accompanied by secretary (economic relations) and police commissioners of these cities.
“I have written to seven states which have more presence of African nationals to do sensitisation on pattern of that done in Delhi to avoid recurrence of such incidents,” she added.
Swaraj said the African nations expressed apprehensions over the rising attacks on their nationals and “were satisfied” with the responses and steps taken by government of India to ensure their safety.
Noting that engagement with African nations has been more than ever before in the past. “India’s historical relations with Africa rest on the foundation of brotherhood and solidarity and such incidents which deflect from our historical friendship and close development partnership with Africa are unfortunate,”she said.
The Minister informed the House that as a backlash of the killing of a Congo national in Delhi in May this year, there were few incidents of attacks against Indians in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in which some Indians sustained minor injuries.
The Indian Embassy in Kinshasa raised the issue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of DRC and sought police protection from the local government there for securing their life and property. “An advisory was also issued to all Indian nationals assuring them of all assistance,” she said.
