PANJIM: In what could lead to a diplomatic backlash, especially after the killing of a Congolese national in Delhi, Goa’s Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar on Monday said, “Nigerians get involved in petty crimes and stay back only to get further involved in drugs and other nefarious activities.”
He didn’t stop there. He said that Nigerian nationals “create problems” not just in Goa, but across the country and suggested blacklisting those found indulging in crime and mischief by staying illegally.
Asked to comment on the rape of a woman allegedly by this accused Nigerian, the Minister said that Nigerian students commit crimes on purpose to prolong their stay. “Nigerians create problems not just in Goa, but in the entire country,” Parulekar charged.
He stated that the Nigerians get involved in petty crimes and stay back only to get further involved in drugs and other nefarious activities.
Recounting the horror of two years ago, Parulekar said, “I had heard they had blocked the (National Highway 17) highway. India should have a strict law, where the police force can catch them and deport them. But that law is not in India at the moment, therefore it is a weak point in matters of governance.”
Parulekar demanded that the law be amended and those “black-listed” or have committed crimes should be deported within a month.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, in whose village Parra most of Nigerians reside, told reporters, “We have taken a meeting of all villagers asking them to not rent their premises to Nigerians without proper visa.” He, however, lamented that most still continue to let out their premises.
Lobo further alleged that the Nigerians deliberately damage or throw away their passport and file a missing complaint. “Based on this missing complaint they stay in Goa for years together only because we do not have strict laws to counter this,” he said and demanded that all Nigerians staying illegally be deported immediately.
