The central executive committee of the Students’ Federation of India has issued the following statement on May 31. THE spate of racial violence on African citizens living in India has yet again brought to fore the routine racial discrimination that they have to face in their daily lives. The fact that such acts of violence are happening in the National Capital is even more worrying. The approach of central government and the Delhi police in dealing with the incidents has been that of reducing them to merely ‘law and order’ incidents. Such an approach fails to see the racial discrimination which is at the heart of the issue. This has brought our relation with the African countries - with shared heritage of anti-colonial struggles - under deep strain. Lakhs of African citizens come to work and study in various metropolitan centres of India. More than 25,000 African students are studying in various private and public educational institutions. The perception of African migrants as lawless and immoral individuals has crept into the popular psyche. This itself stems out of the racial biases and requires systematic efforts. We should also note that students and youth from the North-Eastern states have also been at the receiving end of racial violence. It is in this regard that a demand has been repeatedly raised that legislation should be brought against the acts of racial discrimination and violence. State governments, central government and embassies can work together to have informal and formal discussions in educational institutions and in residential areas that work towards ensuring mutual trust. Efforts should be made to provide cheap, affordable and safe accommodation for the African students in areas around the educational institutions. Association of African students in India had held a demonstration in Delhi, which was called up following the talks with the ministry of external affairs. The CEC of SFI expresses its solidarity with the struggle of the African students in India and resolves to stand by them in their actions and strengthen their movement for dignity.