apologised to Nigerians for describing them as a 'cancer' and saying
that their actions are detrimental to the tourism industry in the
state.
"It's my mistake to make such statement and I never imagined that
there would be such a problem due to my statement. I apologise,"
Mandrekar said.
The minister equated Nigerians to cancer after they blocked major
highways in the state following the murder of a Nigerian in Mapusa,
which led to clash with the police and people in the state.
However, the minister said what Nigerians did in Goa is also wrong.
In a related event, the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's decision to
deport Nigerians who are staying in the country illegally has been
described as having the tendency of promoting racism.
Speaking on Thursday at the Dabolim international airport, Parrikar
denied allegations of racism against Nigerians in the state saying
that, "It is not racism. If you see earlier history, you will see
that more Nigerians are involved in drugs so people are seeing it that
way."
"The murder of the Nigerian was a fall-out of a gang war between
narcotic gangs in Goa."
A public office holder, Subhash Phaldesai, described Nigerians who
were involved in the violence as "wild animals" whose bodies are
pumped with drugs.
The Nigerian ambassador to India, Ndubuisi Amaku, commenting on the
issue, said the targeting of Nigerians in Goa has attracted the ire of
the Nigerian ambassador to India.
"Nigerian people are offended that you are more concerned with the
welfare of your own people. We are given the impression that the
murder of a Nigerian individual is not important to you," Amaku has
said.
Since the incident last Thursday, association of rent-a-bike owners
have resolved to stop renting out two wheelers to Nigerians, putting
up banners across the state which say "No to Nigerians!", while
villages have stopped renting houses and rooms to students.
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