Goa CM accuses Nigerian envoy of sending offensive SMSes to policeman

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Speaking to CNN-IBN Parrikar also said his government will continue to crack down on foreigners indulging in illegal activities.

Panaji: The diplomatic row between India and Nigeria over a Nigerian national's death in Goa is becoming more fierce. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has accused a Nigerian diplomat of sending 'offensive SMSes' to a senior police officer. Speaking to CNN-IBN he also said his government will continue to crackdown on foreigners indulging in illegal activities.

Earlier on Thursday, a Goa Minister called the Nigerian community a 'cancer' to the state. "Good and quality tourists will not like to visit Goa seeing such a scene. These Nigerians are like a 'cancer'. This will affect our coastal belt badly," said State Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar.

Parrikar too minced no words. "I will take action against foreigners staying illegally in Goa. Most of the foreigners arrested in drug paddling cases in the past are Nigerians. The Nigerians behaved aggressively and blocked National Highway. Would they have kept quiet if Indians had behaved in a similar manner in their country? This is a law and order situation and not diplomatic," said Parrikar.

The aggressive stand of the Goa government came after the Nigerian High Commissioner to India vented his anger over the police investigations into the death of a Nigerian national. "We are being given the impression that the murder of this person is not important to you, your only concern is that of your own people. I think both governments can handle it through diplomatic channels. Its not an issue than can be solved through the press or the media," said Ndubuisi Vitus Amaku, Nigerian Ambassador.

Police on Tuesday arrested eight suspects in the murder of a Nigerian national who was killed in October. Goa Police believe a narcotics-related turf-war between rival gangs led to the murder.

What began as a clash between the Nigerian community and the locals in Goa now threatens to snowball into a major diplomatic row, as while the Goa government has initiated a drive to flush out Nigerians staying illegally the Nigerian community has accused the government of discrimination.