States that media reported him wrongly on the issue of deportation of Nigerians
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday accused a Nigerian diplomat of sending ‘offensive text messages’ to a senior police officer over the controversy relating to the killing of a Nigerian national whose death had sparked off protests in the State, last week.
Addressing a press conference, Parrikar said that “the Nigerian Embassy was wrongly briefed by the diplomat who arrived in Goa, soon after the incident. He (diplomat) went to the extent of sending offensive SMSes (text messages) to our SP (superintendent of police).” Parrikar was referring to Jacob Nwadadia, a consular attaché who was in Goa to meet police and members of the Nigerian community.
SP (North) Priyanka Kashyap’s failure to control a mob of Nigerians who had blocked the national highway-17 at Porvorim on October 31, has been criticised by the media and opposition parties.
She was also accused of using abusive language against the local mob that attacked Nigerians and police during the riot. The Home Ministry is already investigating the matter.
Parrikar, who is the State Home Minister, said that he was unaware about the arrival of the Nigerian diplomat, who did not follow proper protocol before visiting Goa. “As a foreign diplomat, he should have come through the Ministry of External Affairs. I never got any communication that anyone is coming,” he said.
“Ministry of External Affairs did not send any communication about anyone’s arrival in Goa. The diplomat was wrongly briefed by his fellow colleagues, who in turn misrepresented to the Embassy,” Chief Minister added.
A Nigerian diplomat, who was recently in Goa, had reportedly warned of ‘repercussions’ against Indians living in Nigeria if his fellow countrymen were harassed in Goa. “These Nigerians took law into their hands…blocked the highway…attacked police…damaged government property…does the Embassy want me not to arrest them?” the CM questioned.
Parrikar said that the ‘misunderstanding’ between Nigeria and India was fallout of wrong media reporting. “I never said that Nigerians would be deported, but what I had said was that illegally staying foreigners including Nigerians would be deported,” he said.
