Addressing
a delegation of African students, Swaraj told them that the death of Congo
student is not a case of racial attack.
In the wake of the
recent attacks on African nationals in the country, External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday met African students to assure them of their safety
and security in India.
During a meeting with
the delegation of African students, Swaraj said, "We held a meeting with
African students and told them the incident of death of Congo national is
unfortunate and painful for us, but it is not a case of racial attack and
should not be seen in that context."
A 23-year-old Congolese national Masonda
Ketada Olivier was recently beaten to death after a verbal altercation over the
hiring of an auto-rickshaw in Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi.
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Stating that being a mother she could
understand the pain of the parents of the Congo student (Oliver) who lost their
son on foreign soil, Swaraj added, "The day this incident took place, I
sought a report from the Lt Governor and I was informed that two people have
been arrested. CCTV footage clearly shows that Indian citizens who were present
at the spot, tried their best to save Oliver."
Swaraj also said that the government has
chalked out a plan as per which, Ministers of States along with Secretaries
would visit every metro city and hold discussions with African students.
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"We will initiate programs of awareness
& sensitisation in areas with max population of African students, so that
such incidents don't recur," she added.
There has been a series of attacks on African
nationals in the last few weeks, including killing of the Congolese youth and
assault on a 23-year-old Nigerian student in Hyderabad.
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Five persons have so far been arrested in
connection with the attacks.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-attack-on-africans-death-of-congo-student-painful-but-not-racial-says-sushma-swaraj-2218394
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