Lok Sabha Debates
Issue Regarding Incidents Of Attack On People Of North-East Residing In ... on 14 August, 2012
> Title: Issue regarding incidents of attack on people of North-East residing in different states.
*DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA (INNER MANIPUR): As a consequence of the unfortunate incident that took place in Assam, we are now experiencing sporadic violent incidents in many parts of the country, particularly in Maharashtra. Students and people from the North-East are attacked without any rhyme or reason. Not only in Maharashtra, we have seen such incidents taking place in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. If such things are not controlled immediately, they may spark bigger problems throughout the country. I would like to bring to your notice that some anti-social elements used very obnoxious language and I would also like to quote it here, “Don’t leave any Chinki” that means not to leave any person with Mongoloid features. In fact, people from North-Eastern States including Sikkim who are living in other parts of the country face a lot of problems. One boy who hails from my constituency is studying in Pune College and he works at night in a shoe factory and when he came back from his work at night he was surrounded by some anti-social elements and enquired whether he is from Assam; before he could reply he was beaten up so badly and he is still in hospital. In another incident a man who came back from his work at around 10 pm, he was also beaten up severely. Some few days back, in Kerala, two Assamese labourers who were trying to board a Guwahati bound train at Ernakulam Junction were attacked by a mob and they were seriously injured.
Keeping in view such incidents, I would like to draw the attention of the Union Government particularly the Home Ministry to look into such sensitive matters and take up appropriate measures not to repeat such untoward incidents. I urge upon the Union Home Minister to send an advisory to all the concerned States to take up all the necessary steps in providing security to the people of North-East residing in their States. I hope the Union Home Minister and the Chief Ministers of the North-Eastern States will take up the matter with the concerned State Governments.
In addition, I would like to request to all the Hon. Members of this august House to look into this sensitive issue and do whatever they can to maintain peace and normalcy in their respective constituencies. I also urge upon the Union Government to impress upon the state home ministers to remain alert to this sensitive situation.
There are about ten thousand people from my State in Mumbai and about eight thousand people in Pune and another thousand in Hyderabad. Many people from our region are residing in almost every part of this vast country. We need to ensure safety and security to all the citizens of this country including those who are from the North-East.
A well known person perhaps not knowingly twitted that “Mary Com the Bronze Medalist is from Assam”. But in fact, she is from Manipur. We need to know one another and understand one another. The people of this great country much know the history, geography and culture of their own. Perhaps, it is high time to include the history, geography and culture of North-Eastern States in the curriculum of our schools throughout the country so that we know them in proper perspective. In fact, such a move will help us to strengthen the Nation, its unity and integrity. Last but not the least, we are all Indians first and later we are Manipuris, Marathis, Punjabi, Tamils, Assamese, etc. Thank you, Madam for giving me this opportunity.
SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY (BAHARAMPUR): Madam, I would like to associate with the matter raised by Dr. Meinya.