External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament on Wednesday not all attacks on Africans were racial, countering the statement issued by the envoys of African nations calling for a UN Human Rights Council probe into the attacks which they said were raciallymotivated and Xenophobic.
Swaraj said "The attacks on Africans cannot be called racist before probe is complete, we are committed to African students' safety".
The statement is repeat of what External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said on March 30: “Pending the investigation it is not correct to go into the nature and the reason for these particular activities." There will be a better understanding after the outcome of the probe, he had said.
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India was put in a diplomatic spot by representatives of the African nations when they described the recent series of attacks on African students in Greater Noida as “xenophobic and racial.”
They also sought intervention from the UN Human Rights Council and other “independent” human rights bodies to conduct investigations into the incidents of attacks so that a comprehensive report could be submitted to the Commission of the African Union.
The development has undoubtedly caused a serious embarrassment to India at a time when the Narendra Modi government’s attempt has been to deepen and strengthen Indo-African relations. But Africa, a continent with 54 countries often act and take position on crucial issues that are not necessarily a reflection of a consensus but the result of some countries’ initiative. The strong statement on attacks on African students could also be one such example. But as long as significant numbers of African countries do not come out with a public statement dissociating themselves from that critical view, it would give India’s detractors the much needed handle to embarrass the government with.
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A statement issued by the office of the dean of the African group head of mission in India, said a “special meeting” of the representatives also concluded that no “known and visible deterring measures” were taken by the Indian government so far.
The MEA later came out with a statement clarifying its stand on the issue saying: “It is unfortunate that a criminal act triggered following the untimely death of a young Indian student under suspicious circumstances has been termed as xenophobic and racial. Investigations on the death of Indian teenager and the subsequent incident by local authorities are ongoing.”
The MEA statement issued at night pointed out that," The Government had condemned and described as unacceptable the incident of attack on a few Nigerian nationals in Greater Noida. The significance attached to addressing the matter is reflected in the detailed statement by the External Affairs Minister (EAM) and the discussion in the Parliament.
It further said," Following EAM's conversation immediately after the incident with the Chief Minister of the State of Uttar Pradesh, local authorities expeditiously arrested suspects. They registered an FIR and are investigating the matter comprehensively. Local authorities have also taken measures to strengthen safety and security of Nigerian nationals. Coordination meetings have been held by local police in Delhi as well as Greater Noida, with African nationals. Moreover, Ministry of External Affairs has further sensitised local authorities towards ensuring safety and security of Africans in general and African students in particular. It also added that the three Nigerian nationals treated in hospital for injuries have been discharged.
