Lathi-charge on protesting students and youth from NE
MPs demand action against Delhi police, CRPF personnel
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies

New Delhi, February 19 2014: Members in both Houses of Parliament today demanded stringent action against Delhi Police and CRPF personnel for assaulting and detaining two Left MPs and several students protesting growing attacks on Northeastern people in Delhi last week.

They also demanded that the issue be taken up by the Privileges Committee of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and action initiated against these personnel.

In the Lok Sabha the issue was raised by M B Rajesh (CPI-M), who said he and Rajya Sabha CPI MP M P Achuthan were beaten up, threatened and detained by the police personnel on February 14 when they went to stop them from "brutally" cane charging university students, including those from Northeast, who were demonstrating on the issue.

A student who was Lathi-charge during Protest against Racism in Delhi on Feb 14 2014br/>Pix - Rabikan Kshetrimayum

"We showed our identity cards to them but they caught us by the collar, dragged us on the roads and threw us in the police vans.

I was hit by lathis, abused and threatened.

Girl students were not only beaten up by policemen but sexually harassed," he said.

The CPI(M) member said, "What we did was in the true spirit of this House which had unanimously condemned the harassment and attacks against the people of Northeast" .

As members, cutting across party lines, came out in support of Rajesh who said it was "blatant violation of MPs' privilege and an insult" to them, Speaker Meira Kumar said, "I condemn this incident unequivocally" .

She said this was "a matter of safety and dignity not only of MPs but of all the people, including those from Northeast and particularly women.

I will take cognisance of it" and asked Rajesh to send her a written complaint.

In his response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the incident was "deplorable and condemnable.

Strictest possible action will be taken against the police personnel involved.

I will request the Home Minister to take strictest possible action against them.

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and D Raja (CPI), who said he had submitted a notice for privilege to Chairman Hamid Ansari on the matter.

A large number of members shouted 'shame, shame' when Yechury and Raja elaborated on the incident.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said he would speak to the Chairman and request him to look into the privilege notice given by Raja and others.

"It is an important issue.

Every member is with you and we have same feelings" .

Biren Baishya (AGP) accused the government of failing to protect the Northeastern people in Delhi despite the Prime Minister himself representing the region.

He demanded a statement from the government on the issue.

After the incident last week when the two MPs and a large number of students were detained at the Parliament Street Police Station, Yechury and Raja had reached them and got them released.