Sushma Swaraj asks V.K. Singh to pacify agitated African students

In wake of the consecutive attacks on African nationals in the country, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said that she has directed Minister of State for External Affairs General (Retd.) V.K. Singh and MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha to meet the students, who have announced demonstration at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital.

"I have asked Gen V.K.Singh MOS and Secretary Amar Sinha to meet #Africanstudents who hv announced demonstration at Jantar Mantar," she tweeted.

Post several attacks on the African nationals in various parts of the nation, the foreign students have decided to stage a protest at the Jantar Mantar on Tuesday.

Six African nationals were attacked in south Delhi's Mehrauli area last week allegedly with cricket bats and sticks. Earlier, a Nigerian student in Hyderabad was beaten up by the local residents during a spat over parking space.

Earlier this month, 23-year-old Congolese national Masonda Ketada Olivier was beaten to death after a verbal altercation over the hiring of an auto-rickshaw in Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi.

Swaraj has also spoken with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung about the attacks.

"They assured me that the culprits will be arrested soon and sensitization campaign will be launched in areas where African nationals reside," she tweeted.