NEW DELHI: Expressing shock over the incident in which a Tanzanian woman was allegedly stripped by a mob in Bengaluru, CPI today asked BJP and Congress to not engage in political sparring over such a "sensitive" issue.
After BJP targeted Congress over the episode, CPI national secretary D Raja said, "BJP and Congress should not stoop low as far as public discourse is concerned."
He asked "why such a sensitive issue is being made a matter of duel between the two parties?"
"They (BJP, Congress) should think in terms of the nation. Such an incident could have happened in Gujarat also," Raja said.
The Rajya Sabha MP said the incident has underscored the need for raising the level of social awareness among countrymen towards foreigners, particularly those from Africa.
Terming the incident "shameful", Raja said it should not have occurred in the first place, especially in a cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru, which draws quite a lot of visitors from other countries.
"As a nation we can create collective awareness. Our approach towards foreigners, particularly those from African countries, needs to change," he said.
Raja urged the Congress-led Karnataka government to ensure stern action is taken against those involved.
A 21-year-old Tanzanian student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car in Bengaluru on Sunday night.
Five persons have been arrested in this connection.
Earlier in the day, BJP targeted Congress for its "hypocrisy" in not initiating action against the culprits in the case and questioned party Vice President Rahul Gandhi's "silence" over the incident.
The party accused the Congress government in Karnataka of covering up the incident and said its "inaction" has brought disrepute to Bengaluru.