Delhi CM meets African envoys to ease tension

In an outreach exercise, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday evening hosted a reception for the ambassadors and high commissioners of African countries in the capital.

In an outreach exercise, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday evening hosted a reception for the ambassadors and high commissioners of African countries in the capital.

The chief minister told the 30 envoys who attended the event that Delhi was home to citizens from across the world and his government was committed to showcase the national capital as a unique city where law-abiding people from different parts of the country and the world lived together peacefully.

Senior bureaucrats from the Delhi government attended the event. The Delhi government had come under flak after reports of “vigilantism” by law minister Somnath Bharti in cases involving women from Uganda.

Kejriwal referred to the multi-dimensional nature of the relations between India and countries of the African continent. “India and Africa share the mutual desire to expand economic cooperation and trade and investment linkages between them.”

The chief minister encouraged the diplomats from African countries to come out with their feelings and frank suggestions on some incidents in recent days, which require his immediate attention.

According to a Delhi government release, Kejriwal said he was very keen to meet with the diplomats and discuss all issues they wanted to raise.

The ambassador of Zimbabwe, Jonathan Wutawunashe, who is also Dean of the African Diplomatic Core, described Delhi as his own city. He requested the chief minister to take robust measures for ensuring that recent incidents are not repeated.

Kejriwal assured the diplomats that his government would do everything possible to end all kinds of discrimination.