Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today sparked a fresh row stating that people are "annoyed" with Nigerians because of their "different attitude" unlike other foreigners and that his government was looking for a place to detain foreigners illegally staying in Goa.
His remarks came even as the Centre initiated damage control exercise over recent attacks on African nationals in Delhi.
"In general, people are angry with Nigerians and not other foreigners. I feel they (Nigerians) have a different attitude," Parsekar told PTI.
Parsekar, who heads the BJP Government of the coastal state that attracts a large number of foreign tourists, was responding to a question on recent allegations of rape against a Nigerian national in Goa and alleged racial attacks in Delhi.
"We get people from all other countries, but in general the people of Goa are very much annoyed with their behaviour, attitude, their way of life...Because on many occasions I hear complaints against Nigerians," he said.
Goa has sizeable number of Nigerians, some of whom are booked in narcotic-related cases, an official said.
Opposition Congress slammed Parsekar for his remarks, saying it reflected the "racist attitude" of the BJP government.
"First (MoS) V K Singh, now Goa Chief Minister belonging to BJP is passing disparaging remarks against people from African continent and nations including Nigeria," Congress spokesperson 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.
Parsekar also said the state government is scouting for a place to house foreigners illegally staying in Goa.
"Not just Nigerians. We will keep all 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 here.
"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 fellowcountryman 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 yesterday 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.
