Assembly decries attacks on NE people
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 25 2014 :
Manipur Legislative Assembly has condemned the recent spate of violence and discrimination meted out to people from North East region at Delhi.
A call attention raised by MLA Th Shyamkumar and MLA RK Imo about the open acts of discrimination and crimes committed against people from the North East at Delhi was deliberated in the State Assembly today in the form of a short duration discussion.
After a threadbare discussion, the House resolved to condemn the incidents of brutal and heinous attacks on the people from the North East which led to the death of Nido Tania.
The House further resolved to urge the Government of India to enact a strong and stringent law to contain such incidents in future.
Th Shyamkumar citing the recent spate of attacks and violence stated that the national capital has become quite a risky place for people of the North East region.
Noting both the Government of Manipur and the Government of India have taken up many significant steps to check racial attacks, Shyamkumar maintained that people still want to know if any criminals involved in such attacks have been punished as well as the quantum of punishment.
RK Imo stated that all those attacks smack of racial discrimination and ought to be condemned in the strongest term.
Decrying failure of Delhi Police to act promptly with regard to these racial attacks, Imo underscored the necessity of enacting an anti-racial law.
House Members I Hemochandra, Dr I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha, P Brojen, RK Anand, K Shyam, Dr Ng Bijoy and Karam Thamarjit also took part in the discussion.
Admitting that there were four/five cases of extreme violence against North East people at Delhi in the past few months, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam noted that these incidents appeared to acts of racial discrimination as there was no let up in such attacks.
The State Government strongly condemned the killing of Nido Tania as well as other cases of rape, molestation and assault.
The Chief Minister even went to Delhi and visited the victims.
If such attacks continue, the country's integrity may be threatened.
So far such attacks are confined to the country's northern region but there is no guarantee that such attacks would not happen in the West or South.
As such, people from the North East living in different parts of India should be very careful.
Out of 59,249 cases registered by Delhi Police in 2011, 27 cases were related to people from the North East.
The corresponding figure in 2012 are 60,000 and 50 .
It were 86,564 and 73 in 2013 .
"Despite all the preventive measures, it is us who are made victims.
Here arises the need for stronger measures," Gaikhangam stated.
Nonetheless, maximum efforts are being put in to root out all criminal activities from the national capital.
A helpline has been already opened for immediate assistance.
Moreover, a high level committee has been constituted with MHA's Deputy Secretary S Shah.
Retired IAS P Bharat is a member of the committee and he is representing the State.
Law is not necessarily the best option for controlling such attacks.
Changing people's conscience is more important, stated the Deputy Chief Minister.
Chief Minister O Ibobi suggested the House to adopt a resolution and send the same to the Centre.
The Government has been studying minutely to prevent such attacks in future.
The Government is also considering certain arrangements under which the State Government and Delhi Police can act jointly in the event of any attack on people from Manipur, claimed the Chief Minister.
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