If we turn a blind eye to the African student attack, Indians lose the right to cry over racism abroad

We Indians never miss a chance to make a hue and cry even at the slightest hint of racial discrimination against our community

By: Rakesh Jha |
March 28, 2017 7:43 pm

While we Indians never miss a chance to make a hue and cry even at the slightest hint of racial discrimination against our community living abroad but when it happens in our own backyard with the foreigners, we don’t bother to care about them.

On Saturday, a teenage boy died in Greater Noida seemingly due to a drug overdose, the locals suspected that the Nigerian nationals in the neighbourhood gave the boy drug which eventually resulted in his death. Though Police, so far, has failed to find any credible evidence against the accused but the mob has already passed the verdict that every African national is a drug peddler. On Monday evening, what was supposed to be a peaceful march to demand arrest of the accused turned into a mob frenzy. The attackers went on a rampage thrashing any black man who came in their way . As many as nine African nationals fell victim to the whims of the mob. Times of India reported that three Nigerians were attacked when they were crossing Pari Chowk, another Nigerian was beaten up near Jagat Farm. This is apart from the attack in Ansal Plaza. One of the victim told ANI “We asked people around for help, but not one called the police. Even our college did not help”. Unsurprisingly, we are in a league of our own when it comes to apathy.

Let’ s compare it with the situation in other countries, we may cite separate instances of racial attacks and violence against Indians or other communities abroad but it would be very difficult to find people from same community coming under attack within hours.

When it comes to discrimination we Indians are worse, we do not spare even our own people. One doesn’t have to be reminded what a north-easterner goes through when he or she comes face to face with real India. For some of us ignorance is bliss, One can only imagine the alienation a person feels when he or she is identified as Nepalese, Chinese, Chinky by his own countrymen just because of his Mongolian feature.

Attacks on African nationals is not new to India. Last year, a group of African national students held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar to protest the killing of a Congolese national and a string of other attacks on Africans in Delhi.

Education becomes a forgone proposition when one fears for his life. These students mostly hail from third world countries. They have chosen India as their education destination for it cost-effectiveness and homogeneity but how could one expect them to complete their education in such an environment.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has been prompt in her response on twitter. She even called UP CM Yogi Adityanath who has promised a fair and impartial investigation into the matter but it remains to be seen how things change on ground. For, it is the duty of our government to instill a sense of security in the minds of the expatriate community and ensure they do not become the victim of mob justice.