By YKA Staff:

On the night of May 21, Masonda Ketanda Olivier, a Congolese teacher who lived in Delhi, was allegedly beaten to death by a group of men who were intoxicated. And the reason? The three men insisted on boarding the auto rickshaw Olivier had hailed, and at his refusal, they beat, chased and brutally assailed him with stones. Despite being in India for 5 years, Olivier was still seen as an outsider. Just a week after this brutal incident, attacks on 4 Africans were reported in Delhi’s Chhatarpur area, for which 5 men have been arrested. This isn’t an isolated chain of incidents – in the past too, immigrants and foreigners have been subjected to racism.

In response to the unrest following the brutal assault, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had earlier stated that this “was not a racist attack”. After this blatant ignorance, the minister has now tweeted this appeal.

I appeal to fellow Indians. Next time you meet an African citizen, pl shake hand and say 'India loves you'.
Pl RT

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 2, 2016

Not only does this try to over simplify the situation, it continues to turn a blind eye towards the racism that we really need to counter.

Obviously, Twitter users had a fair share to say in response.

Touché

.@SushmaSwaraj I appeal to the BJP. Next time you meet a member of the LGBT community, pl shake hand and say 'India loves you'.
Pl RT

— Hardik Rajgor (@Hardism) June 2, 2016

When we will treat fellow Indians with respect?

.@SushmaSwaraj Please also appeal to Delhiites that next time they see a Northeastern person, say, "Delhi loves you".

— Mr. Tippler (@MrTippler) June 2, 2016

.@SushmaSwaraj Ma'am, first appeal to these Shiv Sena-MNS guys first, that next time they meet a Bihari guy, say "Maharashtra loves you".

— Mr. Tippler (@MrTippler) June 2, 2016

YES. Exactly.

@SushmaSwaraj Better still. Urge fellow Indians to not be racist and xenophobic. Let's truly change who we are. @apercevoir

— Harish Subramanian (@HarishSub) June 2, 2016

Fair enough.

@SushmaSwaraj Please do not over do it. Been 2 other countries No one told me their country loves me. Appeal to treat foreigners normally Pl

— Dr Promila Suri (@PromilaSuri) June 2, 2016

Equality is for everyone

@SushmaSwaraj sure madam, also do appeal to fellow bhakts: next time you meet a Muslim or a Dalit, pl shake hand and say 'India loves you'.

— pravin mishra (@mishra_pravin) June 2, 2016

LOL

. @SushmaSwaraj don't advocate western methods. Advise people to do Namaste. Bharat Mata Ki Jai

— Sashank SV (@svsashank) June 2, 2016

Geography class anyone?

.@SushmaSwaraj African citizen? Africa is not a country

— Sulabh Varshney (@sulabh_varshney) June 2, 2016

Love solves everything (not)

.@SushmaSwaraj Sure, mam. After murders/riots for beef, just say "btw bhaai, bhaarat tumhen pyar karta hai" and go back to rioting.

— Nehr-who? (@threeinchfooll) June 2, 2016

Practice what you preach.

@SushmaSwaraj @Riteishd U r right Madam.but wht abt thishttps://t.co/pWm8lJvLkO

— Chandrakant Patel✋ (@BeingHumanChan_) June 2, 2016

This says it all.

@SushmaSwaraj Maybe we shd work on better awareness and not superficial steps. Besides, rights shd not depend on love. #AfricaIsNotACountry

— Mihira Sood (@mihira_sood) June 2, 2016

Unfortunately, there were quite a few out there who proved just how much racism is prevalent in the country and how important it is to first change our mindsets.

@SushmaSwaraj But what about some American African who breaking laws and running drug cartel?

— Pizza (@engineerology) June 2, 2016

@SushmaSwaraj yes, we can do it even if they peddle drugs, break all rules, create nuisance. "India loves you" more than its own citizens.

— ಕನ್ನಡ (@Halmidi) June 2, 2016

@SushmaSwaraj @nehalovesranbir क्या बात कर रहे हो mam ये देश मैं ड्रग्स का काला धंधा फैला रहे हैं और आप इनसे हाथ मिलाने की बात कर रहे हो

— क्षत्रिय जाट समाज (@chatriydagar) June 2, 2016