The Opposition on Thursday expressed concern over the recent attacks on Nigerians in Noida and urged the Government to take appropriate steps as these incidents “sullied” India’s international image. Terming the attacks as “unfortunate,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had assured her of an impartial probe and asked the members to wait for the outcome of investigations.

Replying to the Opposition members who raised the issue during the Zero Hour, Swaraj said the incident was “unfortunate” and the Centre has sought a report from the State Government. “Both incidents are unfortunate. First, 19 year-old boy died, and thereafter, there was an attack on a Nigerian student. ...On behalf of Uttar Pradesh CM and myself, I want to assure that there will be an impartial probe,” she said.

Swaraj also said that the State administration was taking steps to maintain law and order and the Nigerian student was getting treated in a hospital adding “as long as investigation is not complete, it is not proper to say anything more.”

The Nigerian Government had summoned Indian ambassador in Abuja to register its protest over an attack on four Nigerian students and sought “diligent prosecution” against the perpetrators. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Olushola Enikanolaiye, sought action by the Indian Government at a meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria Nagabushana Reddy in Abuja.

“We want to see diligent prosecution so that it would serve as a deterrent to those who think they can take laws into their hands and harass students who are going about their studies. That is why we felt we should register our concern to you on this occasion, and to please ask your government to take effective measures that this does not occur again,” Enikanolaiye said.

In Rajya Sabha, the issue of attack on Nigerian students was raised by Sharad Yadav (JD-U), while leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and members like Anand Sharma (Congress) and Sitaram Yechury (CPM) associated with him in condemning the incident.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien too condemned the incident and said, “We are condemning racial attacks on Indians in other countries and at the same time racial attacks in our country cannot be justified. The Government should be very vigilant and very strong action should be taken.”

Urging the Government to take steps on a war footing, Yadav said such incidents sent a wrong message about India in the international forum. He said on the one hand the country takes a serious note of racial or other such type of attacks on Indians in countries like US and Australia, on the other hand Africans were discriminated against in India. He demanded that MEA as well as Home Ministry should take steps in this matter.

Anand Sharma said India commands goodwill and its image is “sullied” throughout the world with this incident. He demanded a special cell in MEA and MHA to protect such students.

Elaborating the ties between India and the African continent, he said it dates back to 1947 when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru extended support to African countries aspiring for independence. Since then India was giving scholarships to thousands of African students to study in Indian universities as part of cementing ties, he added.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay termed the act of violence against foreign nations as “unacceptable.” He refused to term the attacks as racial saying pending the probe it is not correct to draw a conclusion on “the nature and the reason” of these acts. MEA spokesperson also informed that the nature of incident relating to alleged attack on a Kenyan woman was not correct.