New Delhi: In the wake of uproar over death of two youth from North-East recently, government on Friday said it will write to all states asking them to have “zero tolerance” towards crime against people from that region as serious concern was expressed in Rajya Sabha over it.
Home Minister P Chidambaram rejected allegations about racial profiling of people from North-East anywhere in the country but said there has been “certain discrimination” against “certain people”, which was earlier in the name of language and region.
Chidambaram was replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley on harassment of students of North eastern states in the wake of death of two students from North East in Gurgaon (Haryana) and Bengaluru.
Speaking on the motion, several members voiced concern over growing number of such incidents in Delhi and other parts of the country and asked government to act against those who indulge in discrimination against them and take other steps.
Chidambaram said the Home Ministry had issued clear instructions to Delhi Police in 2009 for “zero-tolerance” towards cases of crime against women in general and crime against women of Northeastern states in particular.
“On October 25, 2010, a more clear and comprehensive order to Delhi Police in this regard was issued by the Home Ministry,” he informed the members.
“I intend to issue the circular in a more modified form to all states…for chief ministers to make police of all states aware of harassment towards students from NE,” he said.
“The Government of India will take every step to ensure their security and I am confident that all state governments will discharge their constitutional responsibilities to ensure the safety and security of all people residing within that state,” Chidambaram said.
On complaints that many students from North East were harassed and detained during the recent BRICS Summit in Delhi, Chidambaram said, “Only four people from North- East were detained for questioning. When their identity was established, they were let off…no one, including Tibetans, was chargesheeted.”
BJP members raised objections over the Home Minister’s assertion that only four persons from North-East were detained during the BRICS Summit in Delhi on March 29 and said the number had been under-stated and wanted the Minister to conduct a probe into incidents of harassment and action against the erring officials.
At this, Chidambaram said “anecdotal evidence” does not become actual evidence and insisted that the government could not have allowed a protest near the place where heads of state were staying. “We cannot allow a security incident,” he said.
Admitting that Delhi Police did detain some Tibetans and their supporters as there was an apprehension that the Tibetan groups would disrupt the Summit, Chidambaram stressed that the police have “categorically stated that there was no racial profiling.”
“During the checking process some Indians, including a few from the North-Eastern states were also detained for a short while and let off as soon as their identities were confirmed,” he said.
On a specific question seeking relaxation of inner-line permit regulations in North-eastern states, the Home Minister said these have been relaxed in many of these states but added that a balance has to be maintained between security and promotion of tourism.
“I cannot say inner-line permits will be removed from all north eastern states,” he said. (PTI)