Nearly two weeks after local residents assaulted Nigerian students staying in India, the two sides sat across the table, on Saturday, to sort out their differences.
The meeting, attended by members of Association of African Students in India (AASI) and local leaders of Greater Noida, was organised by Greater Noida police.
According to Times of India, while the Africans suggested that the issue of racial discrimination was deep-rooted in India, locals pointed to a host of disciplinary issues which the former should take care of.
“This issue is deeply rooted in India. In my campus, whenever I roam around, they tend to see me differently. Racial discrimination is involved in this incident. In this, we have to call a spade a spade. I expect a formal statement. Even the new chief minister should have come out and made a statement against this,” said Abdullah, an African student of Sharda University.
The locals and university officials, however, complained about the disciplinary issues being faced by them in the societies and the universities.
“Over 98 percent of the students from African countries do not follow parking rules. When pointed out, they get aggressive and say things like, ‘do not touch me’.
“We face such issues regularly. Even police are very lenient with them as they know they cannot be arrested,” said Pawan Yadav, senior security officer, Sharda University.
Local leaders that the universities should educate the international students on the law of the land and rules and regulations of the society through a mandatory course once they land in India.
Some participants at the meeting. 