The strong stand taken by the African Heads of Missions in New Delhi on the killing of a Congolese student on a trivial issue by three men hailing an auto the student wanted to take shows that the path of closer relations between India and Africa is beset with challenges.
The envoys have inferred, albeit prematurely and without proper evidence, that the killing was racial and have advised their governments not to send new students to India, unless their safety can be guaranteed. While incidents like the murderous assault on the Congolese student are very unfortunate and condemnable, it cannot be denied that such incidents are few and do not confirm to a pattern.
There can be no dispute about the fact that the perpetrators of the recent killing must be brought to book quickly and deterrent punishment meted out to them, but such attacks are actually a reflection of the general law and order situation which is a matter of concern in the capital. Indeed, road rage has taken toll of many lives in Delhi in recent days.
To consider a racial pattern in the killing of the African youth would be wrong, especially when there is no evidence to establish this consideration. There is no denying that a close watch needs to be kept on those elements who are involved in discrediting India in foreign eyes. It is nevertheless shameful that in February, a Tanzanian woman was beaten and stripped naked by a mob in Bangalore after a Sudanese student’s car hit an Indian woman. In September 2014, a video of three African men being beaten inside a New Delhi metro station had caused shock. There are more than 2,000 African students residing in Jalandhar and Phagwara towns in Punjab. Reports say they face racial taunts at every turn.
In Pune too, where nearly 1,800 African students are enrolled in different educational institutions, racial slurs are common. African students are known to keep aloof and not mix generally with local students. It is unfortunately true that we Indians tend to look upon black people with prejudice and distaste. But there still are some welcoming factors. What is not true, however, is that colour or racial prejudices have led to attacks on the Africans or any other communities on an organized scale.
Besides, not only the Indians but also the African Heads of Missions have something to introspect about. In Mumbai, Delhi and other cities, Africans are identified with drug-peddling and looked upon with suspicion. Presently there are more than 100 Nigerians lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, most of them are accused of peddling drugs. When such is the record of a section of Africans, it is difficult to expect Indians to be free of prejudices against them in general. For no fault of theirs, Africans in general by dint of their physique are looked upon as bullies and toughs.
Few years ago, India had expressed consternation when a series of brutal attacks on Indian expatriates and ethnic Indians occurred in Australia. Indian students have been going to universities in Australia on a major scale in recent times and these attacks were seen to have a pattern but better times returned in due course. The Australian government was pro-active and so have to be the governments across the country in India to ensure that foreigners feel safe and secure. As far as Delhi is concerned there is a general spurt in crime which needs to be controlled and it would be but fair if foreign students get special attention from the police.
It is a matter of relief that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj swung into action immediately after the condemnation of the Delhi attack by the African Heads of Missions. Her words of assurance about speedy justice must be duly honoured. In line with plans worked out some time ago, vice-president Hamid Ansari will undertake a five-day visit to the North African nations of Morocco and Tunisia beginning May 30 as part of efforts to consolidate diplomatic gains from the India-Africa Forum Summit held in October last year. There is also speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit the southern African nation of Mozambique and possibly South Africa too in the coming months.
Though India-Africa ties have seen an upturn with Modi’s new initiatives, there is still much to be achieved. India’s trade with Africa has increased from $39 billion in 2009-10 to $71.4 billion in 2014-15, with the surge in exports. But China’s trade with Africa stands at over $200 billion which is an indication that there is still a long way to go. India indeed has much to offer to the Africans in terms of defence equipment and training of defence personnel and in areas of trade and investment. It is incumbent on India to ensure that glitches in Indo-African relations are not allowed to sour the otherwise congenial environment of bonhomie between them.
