'Missions' statement on attacks on African students painful'

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday termed as "unfortunate, painful and surprising" the African missions statement describing the attacks on African students as "xenophobic and racial", saying the Indian response to this cannot be called inadequate by any means.

She told the Lok Sabha that racial crimes are "pre-planned", which was not the case with the recent attack on the African students by a mob in Greater Noida, asserting that the government is committed to their safety.

Her deputy in the ministry V K Singh spoke to him about the prompt response taken by her as well as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and told him that the African missions could have sought a meeting with the Prime Minister if they were still not satisfied, she said.