As the political leadership in Delhi remains adamant on shielding its controversial law Minister Somnath Bharti, two Ugandan complainants in the case made an emotional appeal saying not all Africans were drug addicts just as not all Indians are rapists. They also extended the charge to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for defending Bharti and going against the Delhi Police which, they claimed, has been supportive so far.
The two women, who had come to the city for the first time for medical treatment, demanded resignation of Bharti and blamed the ‘leaders’ of the city for instilling a racist outlook against them. “If our neighbourhood is involved in prostitution, this does not mean we are prostitutes as well. We saw on TV that Kejriwal is still supporting the Minister (Bharti). So, we finally decided to come out and make an attempt to clear our names. In Africa, we are told that Indians are rapists, but we don’t say it here nor do we look down upon Indians. We expect the same from all of you,” said one of the victims who had flown to Delhi from Uganda on December 30 last year to get treated for sinusitis.
“On that night, Somnath was telling to the cops ‘these people are not like us.’ It hurts to be called a black. The blood running inside all of us has the same colour and blood groups. We will not feel safe until he is a Minister,” she added.
The two complainants visited the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), on Friday, to register their statements in front of the board. The women claimed that one out of the four complainants has been missing ever since the incident took place on January 15. “We have tried to contact her, but her phone is switched off. Now people of our community have started to leave the city in fear. Three of our acquaintances have returned,” said another victim, claiming that she has been in the city since January 3 for dental treatment.
Both, however, are relentless to go back home until the issue is sorted. The two expressed their surprise over why the Ugandan embassy has been quiet in the entire issue. “The matter is everywhere — in the papers, on social media and on TV. We are sure, the embassy knows about the case. But we are wondering why haven’t they offered us a helping hand till now,” they said.