NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JULY 16
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday urged the Centre to take steps to safeguard the lives and properties of the Indian diaspora, including those from Tamil Nadu, in riot-hit South Africa.
Text of the D.O. Letter Dated16-7-2021 of Thiru M.K. Stalin, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu addressed to the Hon’ble Union Minister for External Affairs#CMMKSTALIN | #TNDIPR |#TNCMDOLetter |#TnGovt@mkstalin @mp_saminathan @DrSJaishankar pic.twitter.com/nvZmCxgwlU
— TN DIPR (@TNDIPRNEWS) July 16, 2021
Citing news reports of riots in South Africa and the concerns voiced by the Indian community there, Stalin in a letter to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urged action to protect them.
We're seeing some of the worst political violence in South Africa since Apartheid. The death toll is now up to at least 72. This comes after former President Jacob Zuma was sent to jail. pic.twitter.com/DnBMU1hMrb
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) July 14, 2021
Stalin said it has also been reported that the Indian community, including a large section of Tamil population, have suffered economic losses and “it is learnt that they are also apprehensive of further escalation of tensions there.”
A week of violence, arson and looting in South Africa began to ebb in some areas but many communities in the country aren’t sure how they will survive pic.twitter.com/3HkziXV5OM
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 15, 2021
This is a matter of great concern and urgency, he said and requested Jaishankar to once again take up the matter with South Africa. Restoration of peace and harmony at the earliest and adequate steps to “safeguard life and property of the Indian community including persons from Tamil Nadu” should be impressed upon South Africa through diplomatic channels, the Chief Minister added in his DO letter.