A political storm has erupted in the national capital after a video allegedly showing a BJP municipal councillor threatening a foreign national went viral on social media. The clip, in which councillor Renu Chaudhary is heard telling an African-origin foreigner to “learn Hindi or else” in a public park in Delhi, has triggered sharp reactions, with many accusing her of racial insensitivity, intimidation, and undermining India’s constitutional values of equality and dignity.
A controversy has erupted after an alleged incident of misconduct involving a foreign national of African origin in a public park in the national capital, Delhi.
BJP municipal councillor Renu Chaudhary has come under fire after a video of the incident went viral on social media, in which she is seen telling the foreign national to learn Hindi.
According to reports, the incident occurred when the African national was peacefully spending time in the park. In the video, the councillor’s tone is described as aggressive and threatening. Following the video’s circulation, sharp reactions have emerged on social media. Many users have termed the behaviour as racial discrimination and intolerance towards foreign nationals.
The incident has also sparked a broader debate online, with questions being raised about the fact that millions of Indians live and work in African countries and other parts of the world, often without full proficiency in local languages, yet are allowed to live and work with dignity and respect. In such a context, threatening a foreign national on the basis of language in India’s capital is not only against constitutional values but also harms the country’s international image.
However, councillor Renu Chaudhary has issued a clarification regarding the matter. She stated that the African national in question has been living in the area for nearly 15 years and works as a private football coach. According to her, on the day the video was recorded, around 20 African nationals were present at the ground.
Renu Chaudhary said that most employees working under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) do not know English, while the African coaches, despite having lived in the area for many years, do not understand even basic Hindi, leading to serious communication problems. She claimed that this lack of communication has been causing misunderstandings.
The councillor further said that drug-related activities have been increasing in her area for a long time, causing distress among local residents. She had received complaints in this regard, following which she visited the park. She maintained that her remarks were not intended to threaten anyone, but were meant to facilitate better communication by suggesting that Hindi be learnt.
