Want UN to Probe Racial Violence in India

African heads of missions said they “reviewed the previous incidents and that have taken place in the past and concluded that no known, sufficient and deterring measures were taken by the government of India”.

The injured hand of 24-year-old Imran Uba, who was a victim of the violence in Greater Noida. Credit: Shome Basu

New Delhi: The heads of African diplomatic missions in India have released a strong statement on the recent racial attacks against Africans in Greater Noida, saying that the Indian government has failed to protect Africans despite there being repeated racial attacks in different parts of the country.

The statement, the outcome of a meeting held on March 31, says that the heads of missions “reviewed the previous incidents and that have taken place in the past and concluded that no known, sufficient and deterring measures were taken by the government of India”. They have also said that the attacks in Greater Noida and elsewhere are “xenophobic and racial in nature”. However, these attacks have not been sufficiently condemned by Indian authorities, they said, despite their expectations.

The group has called for an expedited investigation into the recents cases of violence against Africans and an independent inquiry by the UN Human Rights Council and other human rights bodies.

Since the incidents in Greater Noida, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has been the only minister to publicly talk about what happened, which she did on Twitter.

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Sushma Swaraj 

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I have spoken to Yogi Adityanath ji Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh about attack on African students in Greater Noida. /1

7:31 AM - 28 Mar 2017

 
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•  2,4092,409 likes

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Sushma Swaraj 

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He has assured that there will be a fair and impartial investigation into this unfortunate incident. /2

7:31 AM - 28 Mar 2017

 
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President Pranab Mukherjee has also spoken out against the incidents, saying that the public should not dilute “our long tradition of friendship with the people of Africa”.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Gopal Baglay has said the attacks were unacceptable, but added that they could not be termed ‘racist’ until a complete investigation was carried out.

The recent spate of attacks against Africans on the outskirts of Delhi began after a teenager in the area died of an alleged drug overdose. People in the neighbourhood concluded that the boy’s Nigerian neighbours were to blame for selling him the drugs. The Nigerians were were detained by the police and then let off on the lack of evidence. While the teenager was missing, certain people also accused the Nigerians of cannibalism. Since then, several different instances of violence against Africans have been reported in the area. Numerous Africans living in the area have talked about how they are now scared to go out, with physical threats added to the daily racism and aggression they faced anyway.

https://thewire.in/120929/african-envoys-india-racism-un/