Last month, Indian student Rashmi Samant resigned from the position of the president of the Oxford University student union after she was branded as “racist” and “insensitive” for remarks she had apparently made in the past. Following this incident, she made a statement on Facebook last month, which was later published in 'The Oxford Student''. She said, "In light of the recent events surrounding my election to the Presidency of the Oxford SU, I believe it is best for me to step down from the role. It has been an honour to be your President-elect.”
Rashmi is the first Indian woman to have been elected for this position. Raising this issue in the Indian Parliament, Ashwini Vaishnav, a BJP Rajya Sabha member from Odisha said, "If this is the kind of treatment that happens at the highest institute like Oxford what is the message that goes out to the world?.”
Responding to the Rajya Sabha member, Dr Jaishankar said, "We've strong ties with the UK. We'll take up such matters with great candour when required. We will monitor these developments very very closely. We will raise it when required and we will always champion the fight against racism and other forms of intolerance."
