Karnataka ready to set up relief camps
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 19, 2012:
Delegations from North Eastern States have started to visit Karnataka to take first hand information and urge the Government to ensure safety of their people living here.
After delegations from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, representatives of Nagaland Government met Deputy Chief Minister incharge of Home R Ashoka on Sunday and urged him to provide security for their people.
Power Minister Doshehe Y Sema and Parliamentary secretaty in charge of Social Welfare Chotisuh Sazo spoke to Ashoka for more than half an hour and got know the measures taken by the Karnataka government on exodus of northeast people.
Lauding the efforts of the state government, the delegation called upon Nagas settled in Karnataka to learn local language and culture and freely mingle with the local people.
They also appealed the Nagas, who have fled Bangalore on fear psychosis, to return to Bangalore as it would send wrong message and add to the confusion.
Sema also invited Ashoka to visit Kohima as good will gesture and instill confidence among the Nagas to return to Bangalore.
Reiterating that there was no truth in rumours of attack on northeast people in Bangalore, as police was geared up to provide elaborate security, Ashoka appealed the parents not to panic and send their children back home to Bangalore.
About 30,000 people have so far reportedly fled the city, but since Saturday the number has come down.
On Saturday, Arunachal Pradesh MP Takam Sanjoy and Congress leader Likha Maj met the home minister to get the first hand information on the exodus from Bangalore.
Ashoka assured the delegation that government was ready to set up a relief camp by renting out convention halls and provide free food and lodging to the people of northeast, especially students, studying in various colleges in Karnataka, if necessitated.
Arunachal Bhavan deputy resident commissioner K N Damo was also present.
Besides assuring re-examination and relaxation in attendance for northeastern students who have already fled the city, the home minister promised to allot a piece of land in Bangalore for constructing Arunachal Bhavan.