Goa minister calls Nigerians a ’cancer’; later apologises

mangaloretoday.com

Panaji, Nov 7: A Goa Minister has kicked off a controversy calling Nigerians in the state a cancer and demanding that they be removed. The comment is likely to add to the diplomatic war on between India and Nigeria.

"Good and quality tourists will not like to visit Goa seeing such a scene. These Nigerians are like a ’cancer’. This will affect our coastal belt badly," Goa Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar said.

The row occurred after a Nigerian national was killed in an alleged drug turf war recently, sparking protests from the Nigerian community. The Goa Police made the first arrest in the case on Tuesday. But Nigeria has accused India of discriminating against its citizens.

 

Apologise 100 times for comparing Nigerians to cancer: Goa minister


"I apologise 100 times and regret my mistake." Dayanand Mandrekar, the Arts and Culture Minister in the BJP government, said, "I said what I felt... (but) I did not mean to label the entire Nigerian community."

The Goa government’s reaction to the murder of a Nigerian last week has been described as "insulting" by Nigerian diplomats, who allege that a drive to identify and deport foreigners without valid visas has been racist and indiscriminate.

 

After last week’s murder of a Nigerian in Mapusa, a group of 200 Nigerians blocked a major high way and clashed with the police and locals. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar then ordered the police and officials to identify Nigerians who are illegal residents of the state, and said they must be deported.

In a village in Mapusa, a banner that declares "Say No to Nigerians, Say No to Drugs" reflects the unsubtle racism that has engulfed the area. When asked if this was a matter of concern for his government, the Chief Minister said, "There is this feeling because more Nigerians have been arrested for indulging in the narcotics trade."

His colleague Michael Lobo, BJP MLA from Calangute too said that "98% of Nigerians and African nationals were involved in the drug trade in Goa". When asked if these were sweeping generalizations or if he could substantiate his claim, Mr Lobo said, "Ask anybody in Goa. They will all agree."