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Africans call of stir after assurance from Indian govt

Mukherjee reminded the nation that Mahatma Gandhi was a famous “NRI who made his first experiments with Satyagraha in South Africa.”

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Pranab Mukherjee
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The protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday called by the Association of African Students in India (AASI) to condemn the spate of attacks in the capital in the past fortnight has been called off after assurances from the Indian government.

In a series of tweets, President Pranab Mukherjee condemned the attacks on African nationals and called upon close relationship shared and the history of the two nations. “Recent attacks on African students extremely painful,” tweeted Mukherjee, adding, “It would be most unfortunate if people of India were to dilute our long tradition of friendship with people of Africa.”

If the protest went through as per the plans, it could be potentially embarrassing for the Indian government. Sustained tweets from President Mukherjee gave a glimpse of the efforts made by authorities to diffuse the tense situation created. The president’s tweets included, “India’s relations with Africa should not be jeopardised in any way,” and “Appropriate awareness of India’s age old historical relations with Africa must be created in the minds of our youngsters.”

Speaking to a private media channel, South African envoy Malose William Mogale stated, “It’s racist attacks. But it is not government policy. It is people who might want to tarnish the image of the country, India, to be portrayed to the world that it is the country where there is an emerging trend of racism and more foreigners are not allowed.”

Tweeting more than 10 times, Mukherjee reminded the nation that Mahatma Gandhi was a famous “Non-Resident Indian who made his first experiments with Satyagraha in South Africa,” and invoked India’s support during the freedom struggles led by African leaders like Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere.Mukherjee reminded the nation that Mahatma Gandhi was a famous “Non-Resident Indian who made his first experiments with Satyagraha in South Africa,” and invoked India’s support during the freedom struggles led by African leaders like Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere.

Over the weekend, the African delegation sent the Ministry of External affairs mixed signals despite repeated assurances from the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.  

Several sensitization programs have been conducted over the past week with residents of villages with a significant African population. Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also directed increased police patrolling and vigilance.

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