MP urges Centre to act on attacks against NE people
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 16, 2012: Taking serious note of the attacks on students and professionals from the North East in some parts of the country as a fall out of the recent clash between indigenous Bodos and Bangladeshi migrants in Assam, Lok Sabha MP from Inner Manipur, Dr T Meinya has urged the Union Home Ministry to look into the matter and deal with it immediately.

Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam, on the otherhand, has described alleged threat against peope of North East at Bagalore as rumours and appealed for calm.

Drawing the attention of the House to the sensitive issue during Zero hour on August 14, Dr Meinya pointed out that there have been 'sporadic violent incidents' against the people of North East as a fall out of the Assam clash.

Stating that such reports have come from the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, Dr Meinya said that there is the urgent need to control the situation immediately or else it may spark off bigger problems throughout the country.

Citing examples, the MP said that a boy from his constituency was assaulted at Pune while returning from his work place.

'Don't leave any Chinki' is what the attackers said, in an obvious reference to the Mongoloid features of the people from the North East region, added the MP.

MP urges Centre to act on attacks against NE people

Urging the Central Government, particularly the Union Home Ministry to look into the matter and take up proactive steps, the MP suggested that advisories be issued to all the States to provide security to the people from the North East region.

Dr Meinya also suggested that the Chief Ministers of the North East States and the Union Home Ministry take up the matter with the States concerned immediately.

Drawing the attention of the members of the Lok Sabha, the MP also urged them to look into the sensitive issue and maintain peace and normalcy at their respective constituencies.

Giving a rough statistics of the people from North East presently studying and working in some parts of the country, Dr Meinya said that there are about 8000 from the region in Pune, 10,000 in Mumbai, 1000 in Hyderabad while in Delhi alone there are about 40,000. Asserting that there is the need to 'know one another and understand each other', the Parliamentarian advocated the inclusion of the history, geography and culture of the North East region in the curriculum of all the schools across the country.

Meanwhile, dismissing the reports about threats targeting people of North East region including Manipur at Bangalore as rumour, Home Minister Gaikhangam while maintaining there is cause to panic, has appealed to the people remain calm.

Nevertheless, the Home Minister termed it unfortunate that unfounded rumours were causing panic among students and professionals of North East origin staying at Bangalore.

Speaking to media persons at his office today, Gaikhangam conveyed that the State DGP talked with his Karnataka counterpart about the matter yesterday.

Today too, Gaikhangam talked with the Karnataka Home Minister and the former was told that all the reports about threats and attacks on North Eastern people were rumours.

The Karnataka Home Minister reportedly went to railway station and tried to convince students from the North East not to leave Bangalore.

On being enquired into the details of the conversation with his Karnataka counterpart, Gaikhangam stated that he highlighted about the tense situation cropping in the two States because of reports coming from Bangalore and enquired what exactly was happening in Bangalore.

At this, the Karnataka Home Minister reportedly replied that all the reports were rumours and that all necessary measures have been taken up.

However, Gaikhangam refused to give any comment when ask about the arrangement of special trains for North East students fleeing Bangalore.

On being asked about the UNC's bandh which would come into effect from August 20, the Home Minister stated that bandhs affect bandh sponsors too.

Calling for peaceful co-existence, Gaikhangam appealed to all concerned not to resort to bandh.

Regarding the killing of five year old girl Maibam Miranda of Wabagai Tentha Chingya, the Home Minister said that Police Department have been instructed to book and take up befitting actions against the culprits.

He added that he held a meeting today with some representatives of the JAC constituted in connection with the murder of the minor girl.