New Delhi: In what has caused acute embarrassment to New Delhi, the Indian Government on Wednesday evening expressed its “deep pain” and “regret” to Tanzania over a "shameful" incident in Bengaluru — in which a mob reportedly attacked and stripped a young Tanzanian woman in the Karnataka Capital on Sunday night---after a furious Tanzania issued a “note verbale” to India about the reported attacks on African students in Bengaluru, requesting the Indian Government to "follow up on this matter and take necessary legal action against those involved in such attacks and to ensure the safety and security of all African students in India".
Other African countries are also reportedly outraged over the matter. With External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reacting immediately, the Union Government said it had taken up the matter with the Karnataka state government and had been informed by it that a criminal case has been registered and that four accused persons have been arrested.
The Union Government has also asked the (Congress-ruled) Karnataka state Government ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty.
"We are deeply pained over the shameful incident with a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru. I spoke to the Chief Minister Karnataka. He informed me that a criminal case has been registered and four accused have been arrested. I have asked the Chief Minister to ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday evening, "The Joint Secretary E&SA has spoken to the High Commissioner of Tanzania a short while ago. He expressed our regret at the unfortunate incident and assured him that the Ministry is in regular touch with the authorities in Bengaluru in this regard and the state authorities have assured that they are seized of the matter and have taken action to prevent any recurrence of such untoward incidents."
The Bengaluru incident further highlights the racial discrimination and indignities heaped on African students across the country that have come to the fore in such incidents from time to time. This comes after a successful India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) organised by the Modi Government in New Delhi in November last year that was attended by several African Heads of State/Government. But observers fear that such incidents like the one in Bengaluru could sour ties between India and the energy-rich African continent at a time, when the Modi Government has gone all out to woo African countries.
