Woman sick of vile racist abuse online while working for SNP

Nikita Bassi says she has been targeted with vicious online hate for two years since getting a job in politics as a caseworker at the Scottish Parliament.

The 29-year-old, who lives in Dennistoun, claims trolls constantly attack her for her Indian ethnicity telling her to ‘go home’, despite being raised in Edinburgh.

She has also been bombarded with nasty messages for openly supporting Celtic Football Club leaving her anxious.

Nikita Bassi is calling out the behaviour (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking to the Glasgow Times Nikita said: “I get so many racial and malicious comments, I am worried it will never get better sometimes.

“I think because of my ethnicity, my SNP party affiliation, and because I support Celtic, it just attracts constant disgusting messages.

“People might think I am an easy target because I am a young woman in politics and have opinions, but it shouldn't be that way.

“I have to stand up for myself, so I am calling this behaviour out.

“It is okay that we have different opinions and football teams, but we should still be civil and mature to each other.”

Nikita also opened up about growing up in Scotland and suffering bullying in school because of her Indian heritage.

This left her feeling embarrassed of her roots because of the rejection she felt at school.

After growing up she realised it was nothing to be ashamed of and instead began to proudly embrace both her Scottish and Indian nationalities.

Now she wants to raise awareness to show how abuse can affect people, as she worries it puts other women off politics and joining in football culture.

She said: “When I was younger, I used to be embarrassed of my Indian heritage because I was called names in school for it.

"I learned to embrace it though and I am now proud.

“It is no shock that because of the abuse I get that women are put off entering politics, for a while I thought it was just part of the job but that is so wrong.

“People use social media to hide behind a fake profile and say the most disgusting things that they would never say to my face, it just isn’t okay.

“I also think football culture in Glasgow can be really toxic on all sides, it is horrible because I really enjoy the game. The hate shouldn’t be a part of it.

“I don’t know how to stop it forever or make these people stop targeting me, but calling it out and letting them know it isn’t acceptable is what I am doing for now.”

The Glasgow Times reached out to Show Racism the Red Card for comment.