Attacks on Africans: VK Singh slams media for blowing up minor scuffle'
New Delhi: Nine persons were detained on Sunday over the attacks on Africans in south Delhi after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj raised the issue with home minister Rajnath Singh. MoS for external affairs V.K. Singh triggered another controversy by describing the episode as a “minor scuffle” and blaming the media.
He tweeted, “Had detailed discussions with the Delhi police and found that the media is blowing up a minor scuffle as an attack on African nationals in Rajpur Khurd. Why is media doing this? As responsible citizens let us question them and their motives.”
Mr Singh’s comments were puzzling as both Ms Swaraj and Mr Rajnath Singh had just hours before expressed serious concern over the attacks.
African students in the city had earlier decided to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar following which Ms Swaraj asked MoS Singh and secretary (economic affairs) Amar Sinha to meet the aggrieved students.
The government also plans to launch sensitisation campaigns to prevent such attacks amid media reports that locals have objected to African students playing loud music at night.
Ms Swaraj tweeted on Sunday morning that she had “spoken to Mr Rajnath Singh and Lt. Gov. of Delhi (Najeeb Jung)...”
Centre to the aid of Congolese family
This isn’t the first time that Gen. Singh has landed in a controversy. His reference to the attack as a “minor scuffle” is bound to infuriate African nations which had stated that the problems of “racism and Afro-phobia” exist in India. Following the attacks, some African envoys have once again demanded that the Indian government crack down on the culprits.
According to TV reports, the Kenyan envoy on Sunday demanded that India must act firmly to prevent more attacks against Africans. With tempers running high among the African nations, the government moved in to help the family of the Congolese national who was killed on May 20.
“In the unfortunate death of Mr Masunda Oliver, the government will assist his family to travel to India to receive his mortal remains. We will also arrange for his mortal remains to be transported to DR Congo at our expense,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
The government is worried since the attacks may cast a shadow on PM Narendra Modi’s visits to African countries this year. It is being speculated that Mr Modi may visit Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa in the coming weeks. The home minister too had tweeted on Sunday morning.
