He held the Union ministry of external affairs responsible for not stepping in to explain the government's action against foreigners staying illegally in the state following last week's murder of Nigerian national Obado Uzoma Simeon in Parra village. Amaku had criticised the Goan authorities over their plans to deport those living illegally in the state.
"It was the responsibility of the external affairs ministry to brief him properly, which has not been done," Parrikar said. "We'll deport all foreigners staying illegally in Goa, including Nigerians. It's the right of the police to check documents and many Nigerians were let go after checking their documents. We also said the Nigerians booked for the Porvorim incident will be allowed to go back to their country and charges will be dropped against them. But they don't have proper documents. Some don't have a visa or even a passport."
Parrikar said the matter had been unnecessarily blown into an international-relations row.
The CM said he was not informed beforehand about the arrival of a Nigerian diplomat, who had come to Goa to meet him, and the resulting misunderstanding blew the issue with the Nigerian high commission out of proportion. "The protocol wasn't followed and I wasn't even aware the diplomat was here to meet me," Parrikar said.
The law is supreme and no one will be allowed to take it into their own hands, whether Nigerians or Indians, the CM said. "Property was damaged and a national highway was blocked [during protests against Simeon's killing] and the Nigerians involved don't even have proper documents," he said. "What does the Nigerian embassy expect me to do?"
He said apart from the Nigerians, others involved in the blocking of the national highway at Porvorim on October 31 would also be booked "if they challenge the government". "Those who blocked the national highway at 4pm had nothing to do with the Nigerian issue," Parrikar said. "That issue was resolved at 1.30pm. We understand local sentiments and that's why we haven't named anyone in the FIR. But if they challenge us, we've enough footage to take action against those involved."
The CM said the police had enough circumstantial evidence to charge those involved in the murder case that triggered the rioting on October 31.
'Nigerian diplomat sent offensive SMSes'
Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said Nigerian administrative attache Jacob Nwadibia, who visited Goa following last week's murder of Nigerian national Obado Uzoma Simeon, went to the extent of sending "offensive SMSes to our superintendent of police". TOI had first reported that after Nwadibia left Goa, he had sent an SMS to north Goa SP Priyanka Kashyap.
Goa minister apologizes for calling Nigerians a 'cancer'
Goa art and culture minister Dayanand Mandrekar has apologized for calling Nigerians a "cancer". "If the three words, 'I am sorry', can put to rest the controversy, then I've no ego, and I apologize for my remark," Mandrekar told TOI on Thursday. The minister said he didn't intend to hurt the feelings of Nigerians across the world, but his remark on Sunday was an immediate reaction to the incidents at Parra and Porvorim.
"I made the remark against those Nigerians who were involved in the Parra and Porvorim incidents, not against all Nigerians," he said.
The murder of Nigerian national Obado Uzoma Simeon in Parra village on the intervening night of October 30 to 31 had led to a group of Nigerians blocking national highway 17 at Porvorim on October 31 and to clashes between locals and Nigerians.
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