'You don't look Indian', Delhi airport official tells Manipuri woman

New Delhi: A Manipuri woman alleged on Saturday that an immigration official at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport hurled racist remarks at her while she was on her way to South Korea for a conference.

According to reports, Monika Khangembam alleged that when she went to the immigration desk at IGI around 9pm on Saturday, an immigration official asked her if she was Indian, and said that she doesn’t look like an Indian. “Indian toh nahi lagti ho,” (you don’t look Indian) said the officer.

He then asked her to tell him how many states comprised the country. When she told him that she was getting late for her flight, he told her that the flight would not take off in her absence.

Khamgemban posted on her Facebook attacking the immigration desk.

Khangembam was en-route to Seoul to represent India at a global women’s conference on July 14-15. “This is racism and bullying, but I will not let it hamper my spirit,” she said.

Following her Facebook complaint, many people tweeted to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and MEA India demanding they take action.

@SushmaSwaraj Madam, Manipur girl harassed by immigration official. https://t.co/dSYASeOqWn MUST TAKE ACTION !

— devanik saha (@devanikindia) July 10, 2016

This immigration officer should be reported @MEAIndia. https://t.co/sLzJMylIGN

— Phirabhi (@Phirabhi) July 10, 2016