Kamal Ghorui
A photo published by The Irish Times triggered a fresh wave of attacks on Indians as a social media user pointed out that a man seen on the photo looked Indian. The Irish Times reported that University of Galway food bank turns away hundreds of students each week, as there is a huge demand for free food. The report narrated how 100 students were waiting for their turn at the student-operated pantry, which started as an arrangement to distribute surplus food but has now become a necessity for the students as they can’t afford food because of the skyrocketing cost of living. The food bank has a lottery system which selects some and rejects many and every week, hundreds of registered students are disappointed. While the report was only about university students facing food poverty, the photo started the online debate though there was no confirmation that the student shown in the photo was Indian. But haters zoomed the photo and attempted to dox the person. “The Irish Times published an article yesterday about Galway University turning away students from a food bank. 90%+ of them were Indian nationals on student visas. Why are Indians in Ireland if they cannot support themselves, or is it just a scam to save money,” the social media post, which started the debate, said. It was by one Peter Paul, who identifies himself as a proud Irishman. The man dug up YouTube videos made by Indians advising fellow Indians how to get free groceries in foreign countries and blamed it on Indian culture. “It’s their culture. They see anything as free as a bonus no matter the cost to society,” the man wrote as the Internet lapped up the India hatred. “Aren’t they supposed to be able to support themselves as a condition of their visa?” one asked. Many people doubted whether the students shown in the photo were all Indians and also questioned why it should be a scam if they joined the queue for the food bank along with hundreds of others.
