An event celebrating Ireland’s Indian community will not go ahead this year following a spate of recent attacks.
India Day, which has been running since 2015, was to take place on Sunday at Farmleigh House in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
The festival is organised by the Ireland India Council in partnership with various Government and civic organisations.
Prashant Shukla, co-chairman of the Ireland India Council, said it was an emotional and difficult decision, however it would not be conducive to go ahead with the celebration under current circumstances.
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He explained the concerns were not over the event’s safety and security, but “about the perception on social media”.
“Even if a single attack was caused” due to the “online perception” of the event, it would not be worth it, he said.
“The main purpose of India Day is friendship and the celebration of freedom, not only by the Indian community but also the Irish community,” he said.
“It is an unfortunate decision, but [members of the Indian community] stand by it because it is the correct decision.”
Hundreds of performers had been preparing for Sunday’s event. Mr Shukla said a new date would only be scheduled when the situation regarding attacks improved, suggesting the possibility of September or October.
A delegation from the Ireland India Council met Tánaiste Simon Harris on Monday to discuss a range of issues, including security. Government officials have offered assurances that all the “reasonable measures will be taken” to ensure the safety of the Indian community, he said.
Reports of attacks against Indians have increased significantly in recent weeks. Last month, a man was beaten, stabbed, robbed and partially stripped by a gang in Tallaght, Co Dublin, three weeks after he arrived in Ireland from India on a critical skills visa. The aftermath of the attack was filmed and uploaded to social media.
Elsewhere, an Indian nurse said her six-year-old Irish-Indian daughter was assaulted and called a “dirty Indian” while playing outside her home in Co Waterford.
Mr Shukla said he raised concerns about what he said was “organised propaganda” online targeting the Indian community in Ireland, during his meeting with Mr Harris.
[ The Irish Times view on racist attacks: no place for hate on our streetsOpens in new window ]
He said incidents of violent assaults began after the Dublin riots in November 2023, but had increased significantly since January this year.
The Ireland India Council said it wanted assaults to be recognised and recorded as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are “appropriately recorded and addressed”.
It has called for a cross-departmental taskforce on hate crime and youth violence and “legislative reform” to hold parents more accountable for the actions of their children.
Speaking after Monday’s meeting, Mr Harris again condemned the attacks, which he called “despicable” and hailed the contribution that Indian people make to Irish society.
“The rise in racist violence is a deep concern. This criminal behaviour cannot be tolerated,” he said. “The role of social media in amplifying the incitement of racism and hatred and the spread of disinformation and division is an integral part of the problem.”
Mr Harris said it was vital that gardaí investigate each assault “with vigour”. He also said serious consideration must be given to whether Irish laws are robust enough regarding violent acts, particularly by teenagers or very young offenders.
He said it was “quite frightening” to see children engaging in attacks, and questioned the role of social media in encouraging racism and division.
“I really hope [India Day] is rescheduled quickly, and it’s an important opportunity. We should be celebrating and we will be celebrating the incredible contribution the Indian community have made to this country,” he said. – Additional reporting PA
