The killing of Congolese national Masonda Ketada Oliver in Delhi last week has cast its shadow over the ‘Africa Day’ celebrations scheduled for Thursday here. Envoys of African nations on Wednesday demanded concrete action against ‘racism and Afro-phobia’ and asked the Indian Government to postpone the event as their community is in ‘mourning’ prompting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to step in to allay their fears. Her deputy VK Singh also met some of the envoys to assure India’s commitment towards safety and security of the African nationals.
Intriguingly, while the envoys remained non-committal towards the event by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), they went ahead holding their part of Africa Day celebrations in a Delhi farm on Wednesday. The event was attended by MEA’s Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Relations), who handles relations with Africa, to underscore India’s support.
At the Africa Day event, the Indian Government would showcase culture, food and heritage of African countries.
In a statement, Dean of African Group Head of Missions and Ambassador of Eritrea Alem Tsehage Woldemariam said that the African envoys have asked for a postponement of the event to mark Africa Day.
“They (envoys) strongly condemn the brutal killing of the African and call on the Indian Government to take concrete steps to guarantee the safety and security of Africans in India. They have also decided not to participate in the celebrations, except the cultural troupe from the Kingdom lesotho. This is because the African Community in India, including the students, is in a state of mourning in memory of the slain African students in the last few years including Oliver,” Woldemariam said.
He added the envoys of 42 African countries have deliberated extensively on recent attacks against its nationals. Woldermariam said the envoys have expressed deep concerns that several attacks and harassment of African students in India “have gone unresolved without diligent prosecution and conviction of perpetrators.” They want the Indian Government to take urgent steps to guarantee the safety of Africans, including “appropriate programmes of public awareness that will address the problem of racism and Afro-phobia in India.”
Responding to the concerns of the African envoys, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the Government has directed concerned authorities to take stringent action against the culprits involved in killing of Oliver. “When I came to know about the unfortunate killing of a Congo national in Delhi, we directed stringent action against the culprits. I would like to assure the African students in India that this was an unfortunate and painful incident involving local goons,” Swaraj tweeted. Swaraj added that she has also asked lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung to take necessary steps and ensure that the case of murder of Oliver is tried by a fast-track court.
The External Affairs Ministry, in a statement, said Swaraj was personally monitoring the matter and assured the African envoys that safety and security of their nationals will be ensured.
On Tuesday, Amar Sinha too had met some African envoys to assure them that stringent punishment will be given to those found guilty. “Secretary (ER) also pointed out that all criminal acts should not be seen as racially-motivated. Thousands of African students continue to pursue their education in India without any issues. Government of India deeply values its relations with foreign students, particularly those from Africa with which India has had a historically close relationship. We will ensure that African students continue to find a welcome home in India and such unfortunate incidents do not recur,” MEA statement said.