India, and New Delhi in particular, doesn't have a great record when it comes to racial tolerance. As much as we might have been scarred by our colonial experience, many Indians seem unable to stop expressing prejudice against people who look different, especially towards residents of the North East and of African origin.
Earlier this year, Aam Aadmi Party leader and state minister Somnath Bharti caused controversy when he organised a midnight raid in Delhi's Khirki village, where several African expatriates live. In the last few months, there have been other cases of crime in the area, which some activists have sought to portray as being symptoms of a larger Indians-vs-Nigerians battle.
Now a YouTube video has emerged showing the response of a crowd at New Delhi's busiest metro station on Sunday to three black men who were allegedly "misbehaving with women". The video shows what looks startling like a lynch mob beating the black men with sticks while yelling, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai."
The men ‒ two Germans and one from Burkina Faso ‒ were not safe even in the Delhi Police kiosk in the station: the few police officials around barely attempt to control the crowd even as the victims of the mob are being attacked.
One of the men reportedly suffered a cut on his neck, which required him to be treated in hospital.
"Even if they were misbehaving/eve teasing, who the f*** gave you the right to beat them that too even in the chants of 'Bharat mata ki jai'," asks Indian_gamerHD, in the comments section of the YouTube video. "Police should have taken care of it. And shame on the uploader who just stand like the others just to get some views on YouTube and not stopping the stupid mob. Things like these are a disgrace to my country."
Earlier this year, Aam Aadmi Party leader and state minister Somnath Bharti caused controversy when he organised a midnight raid in Delhi's Khirki village, where several African expatriates live. In the last few months, there have been other cases of crime in the area, which some activists have sought to portray as being symptoms of a larger Indians-vs-Nigerians battle.
Now a YouTube video has emerged showing the response of a crowd at New Delhi's busiest metro station on Sunday to three black men who were allegedly "misbehaving with women". The video shows what looks startling like a lynch mob beating the black men with sticks while yelling, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai."
The men ‒ two Germans and one from Burkina Faso ‒ were not safe even in the Delhi Police kiosk in the station: the few police officials around barely attempt to control the crowd even as the victims of the mob are being attacked.
One of the men reportedly suffered a cut on his neck, which required him to be treated in hospital.
"Even if they were misbehaving/eve teasing, who the f*** gave you the right to beat them that too even in the chants of 'Bharat mata ki jai'," asks Indian_gamerHD, in the comments section of the YouTube video. "Police should have taken care of it. And shame on the uploader who just stand like the others just to get some views on YouTube and not stopping the stupid mob. Things like these are a disgrace to my country."
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