Provided data paints a stark picture. The most affected countries include: Sri Lanka with 66 incidents, United States 34, Canada 28, Russia 20, United Kingdom 19, and UAE 22
NEW DELHI — There is alarming rise in hate crimes and physical attacks against Indian citizens living abroad. This was stated by Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar in response to a question from CPI(M) MP Dr V Sivadasan in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The minister admitted that the number of such incidents more than doubled since 2022, with 2023 and 2024 recording over 100 attacks each year.
According to the ministry’s official reply, there were 52 incidents in 2022, 109 in 2023, 107 in 2024 and 50 incidents till July of this year.
At this rate, 2025 could surpass previous years, underscoring a persistent and growing threat to Indians abroad.
Country-wise breakdown shows highest attacks took place in Sri Lanka, US, and Canada.
Data provided by the government paints a stark picture. The most affected countries include: Sri Lanka with 66 incidents, United States 34, Canada 28, Russia 20, United Kingdom 19, UAE 22, Philippines 19, Germany 13 and Australia 8.
“These figures are a clear warning sign,” said Dr Sivadasan, pointing to a pattern of increased hostility, especially in countries with large populations of Indian students and migrant workers.
In several countries — including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia — many of the attacks have been classified as hate crimes, often motivated by racism and xenophobic nationalism.
“There is a dangerous rise in far-right extremist activity, particularly in Western nations, targeting people of Indian origin. These are not isolated incidents, but part of an emerging pattern,” Dr Sivadasan warned.
Interestingly, he said the official data presented in Parliament did not mention recent incidents in Ireland, where attacks on persons of Indian origin have been reported in media outlets. This omission raises questions about the completeness and reliability of the government’s data.
“We need a transparent and comprehensive system for reporting such incidents. The absence of Ireland from the data, despite reports of attacks there, proves that the current system is inadequate,” said Dr Sivadasan.
Highlighting the lack of effective support from Indian embassies, Dr Sivadasan said many victims abroad are unable to even file official complaints. “They are left helpless, with little assistance from local authorities or Indian missions,” he said.
He urged the Union Government to strengthen the functioning of embassies and set up grievance redressal mechanisms abroad.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised over the treatment of Indians overseas. With increasing emigration, especially among students and workers, the Indian diaspora faces multiple forms of vulnerability — from physical attacks to institutional discrimination.
“This is not just about statistics. It is about the lives, safety, and human dignity of Indian citizens and their families, who go abroad seeking education, employment, or a better future,” Dr Sivadasan concluded.
