External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asserted that the attack on Congo national Masonda Ketada Olivier that led to his death was not a racial one. This, even as she met African envoys and students and assured them that her Ministry is taking a number of steps to create awareness and sensitisation in areas where African students’ population is dominant.
“Death of Congo national is not only unfortunate but painful for us, being a mother I can understand the pain of deceased student’s parents, who lost their son on foreign soil,” Swaraj said.
She added it is clear from CCTV footage that some Indians, who were present at the spot tried their best to save Oliver and they themselves got injured in the process, hence, the incident should not be seen as a case of racial attack. Swaraj also informed the envoys that she sought a report from Delhi lt Governor Najeeb Jung the day she came to know of the incident and was informed that two arrests have been made. Oliver was beaten to death in South Delhi by three men on May 20 after an argument over an auto-rickshaw.
The Tuesday meeting was attended by Ambassador of Eritrea Alem Tsehaye Waldemariam, who is the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria Sola Enikanolaiye, who is the Chair of the African Union’s Student Committee, Abdoulaye Brahim, Head of the Association of African Students in India and several other students belonging to various African countries. From Indian side, apart from Swaraj, MoS VK Singh, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, and senior officials of the Ministry were present.
The Government has ordered sensitisation drives and increased patrolling in areas having higher presence of African nationals after six people were allegedly attacked on Thursday in separate attacks. Five people have been arrested for the attacks. Two women, one from Uganda and the other from South Africa, and at least, two Nigerian men have alleged that they were targeted in the attacks. last week African envoys had urged Government to solve the problem of racism and Afro-phobia and several attacks have gone unresolved without diligent prosecution.
Meanwhile, addressing the Indian ambassadors during their annual conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked them to find “solutions to the toughest of situations” and unite all forces to fight the scourge of terrorism. He also asked the envoys to work on better linkages between states and the world, saying their visit to their respective home States must bear fruit and strengthen the linkages.
Addressing the Heads of (diplomatic) Missions (HoMs), Modi said, “We have entered a new era of diplomatic engagement, we must adapt to deliver more to meet India’s aspirations.”
Asserting that India’s profile has grown exponentially, PM said “we must match our steps with the world.” He described International Solar Alliance as “an emotive issue” for a large majority of the world.