The recent news coming from Ireland is unsettling for every Indian. From the assault on a 6-year-old girl to targeting taxi drivers, there have been a series of violent attacks against Indians in Ireland in recent weeks. These attacks have escalated beyond simple theft and have become instances of outright racial violence.
According to the Indian government, there are approximately 10,000 Indian students in Ireland studying in fields like medicine, engineering, and technology. It is natural for them to feel fear and insecurity. The question arises: why are the Irish people becoming so violent towards Indians?
What is happening in Ireland?
In Waterford City, a six-year-old girl of Indian origin was racially abused and attacked by some teenagers. It is reported that the attackers also assaulted the victim’s private parts. This is the first incident of a racially motivated attack on a child of Indian origin in Ireland. Prior to this, an Indian chef named Lakshman Das was attacked in Dublin and his belongings were stolen.
In the Ballymun area of Dublin, a taxi driver named Lakhvir Singh was hit on the head with a bottle and told to return to his country. Earlier, in Tallaght, a 40-year-old Indian was severely beaten and stripped. It was alleged that he had done something wrong around children, but the Gardaí, the Irish police, denied this. These events have raised questions about the safety of the more than 80,000 people of Indian origin living there.
Why are Indians being targeted?
The number of Indians in Ireland has increased rapidly. Census data shows that the number of citizens of Indian origin in Ireland has increased by approximately 300% in the last decade, especially the Indian community’s strong presence in healthcare, IT, and education sectors has led to dissatisfaction among some people who feel that Indians are taking their jobs. The narrative that immigrants are a burden on the system often develops on social media or in local politics, which impacts the general public.
Indian government and embassy’s response
The Indian embassy has issued an advisory for all citizens living in Ireland. It advises them not to go to isolated places. It also urges them to be vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the police or the embassy. People are also advised to save the emergency helpline numbers. Additionally, the embassy is demanding that the Irish administration investigate these cases and take action.
How did the number of Indians in Ireland increase?
According to a report by The Hindu, Brexit played a significant role in this change. After Brexit, Ireland became almost the only English-speaking country in the European Union (EU), giving it an advantage in attracting immigrants from all over the world. Because of a better work-life balance, increasing employment opportunities, and being an English-speaking country, more and more people started preferring Ireland. Over time, Indians have become the fastest-growing immigrant population there.