Narendra Modi government in action mode on eve of VP Hamid Ansari’s Africa visit

NEW DELHI: The Modi government on Sunday pressed the panic button on the eve of Vice-President Hamid Ansari’s trip to North Africa — Morocco and Tunisia — as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to home minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung about the instances of assault on the African nationals and killing of a Congolese youth.

In the wake of the consecutive attacks on African nationals, Swaraj has also directed MoS VK Singh and MEA secretary (economic relations) Amar Sinha to meet the students who are planning a demonstration at the Jantar Mantar. Africa comes under the jurisdiction of MEA secretary (economic relations).

The government clearly does not want to queer the pitch ahead of high-profile visits to Africa from India as part of New Delhi’s efforts to increase footprints in the continent — top leaders will criss-cross Africa over the next two months.

After Ansari’s trip, President Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be on a three-nation Africa trip in June to Ghana, Ivory Coast and Namibia. This will be followed by the PM’s trips to Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya in early July.

Later in the year, Ansari will also make a trip to Senegal where he was earlier scheduled to travel. “I have asked Gen VK Singh MoS and Secretary Amar Sinha to meet #Africanstudents who hv announced demonstration at Jantar Mantar,” Swaraj tweeted.

Last week, the African envoys to India had threatened to boycott Africa Day organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, but later were mollified by the MEA. Six African nationals were attacked in south Delhi’s Mehrauli area last week allegedly with cricket bats and sticks.