'A minor scuffle blown up by media': VK Singh on the attack on African nationals in Delhi

New Delhi: Union Minister VK Singh on Sunday claimed the attack on African nationals in the national capital was a “minor scuffle” which was “blown up” by the media. [caption id=“attachment_2189531” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  VK Singh. News18[/caption] “Had detailed discussion with Delhi police and found that media blowing up minor scuffle as attack on African nationals in Rajpur Khurd,” Singh, who is the junior minister in External Affairs Ministry, said and questioned the media’s “motive”. “Why is media doing this? As responsible citizens let us question them and their motives,” he said in a series of tweets. There has been a spate 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.

Why is media doing this? As responsible citizens let us question them and their motives

— Gen VK Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) May 29, 2016

Two women — one from Uganda and the other from South Africa — and at least two Nigerian men in Rajpur Khurd, a village in South Delhi, have also complained about physical assault and criminal intimidation. His remarks came on a day when the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj pressed for ensuring safety of Africal nationals as she spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh who directed the Delhi police to take strict action against the attackers and step up patrolling in the areas inhabited by the community. Swaraj said a sensitisation campaign will be carried out in the areas where African nationals reside. She also asked VK Singh and Secretary in MEA Amar Sinha to meet the African students who have announced holding of a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday. Meanwhile, four persons were today arrested and four others detained by Delhi police in connection with alleged assault on African nationals in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area.