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Notwithstanding Centre's damage-control efforts after the row over attack on African nationals, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday sparked fresh furore with his remark that people in general are angry with Nigerians because of their ‘different attitude’.
"In general, people are angry with Nigerians and not other foreigners. I feel they (Nigerians) have a different attitude," Parsekar said, without elaborating.
The CM was responding to a question on recent allegations of rape against a Nigerian national in Goa and racial attacks in Delhi.
"We get people from all other countries, but, in general, the people of Goa are very much annoyed with their (Nigerians') behaviour, attitude, their way of life...because, on many occasions, I hear complaints against Nigerians," said Parsekar, who heads the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the coastal state.
His remarks drew flak from Opposition Congress which alleged that it reflected the 'racist attitude' of the BJP government.
"First (Minister of State) V K Singh, now Goa chief minister belonging to the BJP is passing disparaging remarks against people from African continent and nations including Nigeria," Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
"Don't they realise that we have historical relationship with the entire African continent, including the struggle which Mahatma Gandhi led in Africa. The manner in which we are humiliating tourists, especially from African nations, speaks volumes about the racist attitude of the BJP government," he said.
Responding to another question, Parsekar said the state government is scouting for a place to house foreigners illegally staying in the state.
"Not just Nigerians. We will keep all the foreigners staying illegally in the state in this detention facility," he said.
“We are searching for a place to have a detention facility. We can even convert any of the existing establishments into the facility,” Parsekar said.
There have been a series of attacks on African nationals in the last few days including killing of a Congolese youth in national capital and assault on a 23-year-old Nigerian student in Hyderabad, drawing outrage from African envoys.
The chief minister’s statement comes two days after State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said that Nigerians are involved in creating trouble across the country.
Parulekar had claimed that Nigerians come in conflict with Indian law so as to extend their stay and indulge in drugs and other crimes.
“The problem of Nigerians is not only in Goa, it is across the country. They arrive here to study and create problems so that a case is filed against them,” Parulekar had told reporters on the sidelines of a function.
“They try to stay in Goa or India and indulge in drugs and other unwanted things,” he had said.
He had also recalled how two years back a group of unruly African nationals had blocked the national highway at Porvorim, near Panaji.
“We should have a strict law where we can deport them. But unfortunately there is no such law in India at the moment,” he said.
The state government’s approach towards Nigerians was condemned by Opposition parties including the newly formed Goa Forward.
“We condemn the chief minister’s remark. We welcome all the tourists in Goa as it is a tourist destination,” Durgadas Kamat, leader of Goa Forward party said.
He, however, was quick to add that there is no doubt that in the entire coastal belt there is a nexus between police, politicians and drug peddlers.
Kamat questioned why Parsekar did not react when a group of African nationals protested on Porvorim roads two years back after a fellow countryman was killed in a gang war.
“He should have reacted two years back. Most of the drug peddlers are from African countries. Why the CM kept quiet on the police-politician-drug peddler nexus, the detailed report of which was tabled on the floor of the house,” he asked.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday announced a slew of steps, including a country-wide sensitisation campaign, even as she asserted that the killing of a Congolese youth in Delhi was not a ‘racial crime’.
Swaraj, who along with her junior minister V K Singh, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other senior officials met a group of African envoys and students in Delhi, also asserted that India, which is the land of Gandhi and Buddha and fought consistently against racial discrimination, can never have a racist mindset.