External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday contested the statement of Dean of the African missions on the “silence” of India’s political leadership with regard to the attacks on African students, saying ​she was ​“surprised and sad” by it, as it was not based on facts.

“India’s action is in no way inadequate. We are committed to protect all Africans on our soil,” Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha, terming as “unfortunate” the Dean’s description of the attacks on African students as “xenophobic and racial”. The statement by the Heads of African Mission, representing 40 countries, had called for condemnation of the attacks at the highest level in India and demanded an independent investigation by human rights bodies.

Swaraj said the attack on a Nigerian student in Greater Noida took place during a candle light march against the death of a class XII student, allegedly due to drug overdose.

“It was not a pre-meditated attack, as is normally seen in case of racial attacks,” she said, adding that she had immediately tweeted and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister tweeted back assuring an impartial probe.

“Six people have been arrested and the probe is on. The incident cannot be termed racial before the probe is over,” she said, adding that “every criminal attack may not be racial. I have said this in the case of attacks on Indians in the US too.”

Swaraj said her Ministry had called the African group head of the missions and her deputy in the Ministry, V K Singh, had conveyed the government’s response.

The Minister also objected to the African missions’ demand for an investigation by the Human Rights Council, saying that India had robust human rights bodies, an active civil society, besides an independent media and judiciary.

​Swaraj spoke after Congress leader, K. C. Venugopal, attacked the government over the development and accused it of “diplomatic failure", backed by the Left parties.

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