Congolese student's murder: Even Africa is not safe, says union minister

New Delhi: Terming the killing of a Congolese national in the capital as 'unfortunate', Minister of Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma said that even African countries are not safe.

“It is an unfortunate incident. However, even Africa is not safe. Such incidents happen in other parts of the world too,” Sharma said.

Read: 23-year-old African national, attacked with stones, beaten to death in Delhi

His comment came after the killing of Olivier Masonga Kitanda in New Delhi’s Hauz Khas area which caused a diplomatic rift between Indian and African envoys. 29-year-old Olivier was beaten to death by three men on Friday, after a verbal altercation.

Sharma said that such untoward incidents will give India a ‘bad name’. “India is a large country and such incidents will give a bad name to India,” he added.

Read: Govt committed to safety of African nationals in India: Sushma Swaraj

Meanwhile, African countries have demanded concrete steps against 'racism and Afro-phobia' and sought deferment of the celebrations of Africa Day by India, which assured them of safety and security of their nationals.