New Delhi: Following rise in racial attacks against African students and Northeast people in India, the Association of African Students in India (AASI) has joined hands with the people of Northeast India to fight racism.

During a press conference convened in Delhi on Monday, the AASI expressed solidarity with other communities, who had been facing similar discrimination. Human Rights activist Irom Sharmila too joined the African students to condemn the attacks on students who came to India to pursue higher education. She called for peaceful co-existence and respect for each other.

A Tanzanian student was outraged by assailants by stripping her naked and assaulted in Bengaluru city.
In March, two Nigerians siblings were beaten up by mob over false rumours of cannibalism in Greater Noida.

With a view to creating an awareness among people, the AASI has come forward to address the media directly, one of the AASI student said. Since such issues are largely prevalent in the society, it is for the government to act sternly by taking concrete measures to curb incidents, AASI president Samuel Jack remarked.

The AASI demands:

Setting up of a special panel with lawyers and counsellors to look into incidents of racially motivated crimes.
Return of the passports of Nigerian nationals that were confiscated in March during investigations on the incidents in Greater Noida in March.
To organise activities and events to showcase African culture and overcome barriers of communication.