Goa Chief Minsiter Manohar Parrikar
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has blamed the Indian foreign ministry for the snowballing diplomatic row with Nigeria after the murder of a Nigerian last week.
"The row between India and Nigeria was created by the mistakes of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)," Mr Parrikar told NDTV. "Why didn't the Nigerian attache come to Goa through the MEA?"
There has been growing anger among the people in the tiny tourist state since about 200 Nigerians blocked a major national highway and clashed with the police and locals as they protested after their countryman was found dead with stab wounds in Mapusa town near Panaji.
Angry posters have sprung up as locals single out Nigerians and say they will not rent homes to them.
Amid reports that many of the Nigerians in Goa are leaving town, the ambassador of that country in India had said, "The Nigerian people as a whole feel insulted and offended... I need evidence from you and from others that you are also concerned about the safety of Nigerians.
Ndubuisi Vitus Amaku was referring to developments over the last few days that have included a drive by the Goa government to identify and deport Nigerians who allegedly do not have valid visas.
Nigeria has also formally written to the Indian government expressing concern over the security of its citizens
Mr Parrikar said the Nigerian ambassador had not been briefed properly by the foreign ministry. "Does the Nigerian ambassador expect me not to arrest Nigerians taking the law in their own hands?"
On Wednesday, the alleged murderer of the Nigerian was arrested. He is reportedly linked with a gang that traffics drugs.