Attack on Tanzanian woman 'not racist': Outrage on Twitter over Karnataka HM's views
It couldn't get any worse than this.
First, the unimaginably deplorable and unabashedly racist-misogynist assault, stripping and parading naked of a 21-year-old Tanzanian college student by a frenzied vigilante mob in Bangalore.
Now, the regrettable words from Karnataka state home minister G Parameshwara claiming that the assault was "not racist", and "just a response to an accident. Bengaluru doesn't have such kind of attitude"!
This is not a racist attack, this is just a response to an accident.Bengaluru doesn't have such kind of attitude-K'tka HM
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 4, 2016
The Sunday evening episode, in which the young girl studying in a college in Bangalore was subjected to unfathomable humiliation because she happened to pass by an accident spot involving another African person (a Sudanese man) in which a 35-year-old local female resident was killed, has riled the nation's conscience.
DGP &Commissioner went to spot today,spoke to affected students. Its clear we are taking this seriously-K'tka HM pic.twitter.com/eA0nivtAJN
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 4, 2016
The cops registered the case at that time itself-K'tka HM on #TanzanianGirl assault case pic.twitter.com/ghZDhvKvVK
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 4, 2016
Despite earning national and public censure on both mainstream and social media, it seems that the Bangalore government officials are yet to wake up to their city's racist reality. In fact, Parameshwara not only denied any race angle, he actively praised the police for quick action, even eyewitnesses claim that the cops just watched as the mob carried out the dreadful assault on the Tanzanian girl, and even beat up a man who tried coming to her rescue. Moreover, the girl's car, a Wagon-R, was set ablaze by the riotous public baying for blood.
Completely ridiculous, unacceptable response by Karnataka Home Minister to the Tanzanian Student's case. Shameful .
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) February 4, 2016
Really? 'This is definitely not a racial attack. I dont think Bangaloreans have that kind of a mindset': Karnataka home minister Parmeswara.
— rama lakshmi (@RamaNewDelhi) February 4, 2016
Instead of clearly condemning the unpardonable behaviour of his state capital's denizens, the home minister instead went on to shift the blame on African students "who overstay" their visa allowances, and squarely said had the Sudanese man not killed the local woman, the Tanzanian girl episode wouldn't have occurred.
We strongly condemn the irresponsible & immature response of Congress President & Home Minister Karnataka.. https://t.co/9YI6Bz1PBX
— BJP Karnataka (@bjpkarnataka) February 4, 2016
Evidently, home minister Parameshwara doesn't see any correlation between a frenzied mob attacking and stripping a black woman because another black man has been caught in an accident and the tendency, particularly among Indians, to homogenise and bracket every African person as dark-skinned nuisance makers.
Minister points out that In tha finest traditions of Indian culture mob would have done the same to an Indian women pic.twitter.com/X5fRHzJ8vw
— IndiaExplained (@IndiaExplained) February 4, 2016
*South African apartheid*'Civil dispute, no race angle' ~ Karnataka Home Minister
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 4, 2016
Irresponsible statements from Karnataka Home Minister and Inspector on such a sensitive issue.Pathetic to see we are so bad @ giving justice
— Harsimran Singh (@harsimran_0707) February 4, 2016
Another Unsuccessful attempt by shameless Karnataka home minister to defend & cover up a barbaric & shameful acts of mindless mob.
— Ishtiaq Khan (@ishtiaq787) February 4, 2016
Idiot, These are Unrelated issues to the Mob Violence https://t.co/VWwQS9bLvU
— Joy (@Joydas) February 4, 2016
How Kind of the Mob https://t.co/GuBjdLNhhl
— Joy (@Joydas) February 3, 2016
Interesting how everytime we went native, from Bombay to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Bangalore to Bengaluru, we degraded. #TanzanianGirl
— deep halder (@daipayanhalder) February 4, 2016
The gross display of insensitivity by both the Bangalore mob and their legislative representatives is a matter of terrible shame. We expect that the Congress top brass takes note of this idiotic display of civic apathy and lack of socio-political empathy among its rank and file.
Thats my assessment. She was attacked because she was black like guy who caused the accident, says John WH Kijazi pic.twitter.com/9UgJeAmJ8E
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 4, 2016