Guilty will be brought to book, assures PM
NEW DELHI: Widespread protests over the death of the Arunachal Pradesh student reached its peak with people from all the Northeastern states staging a noisy dharna at Jantar Mantar even as the President, Prime Minister, Delhi Chief Minister and all top leaders condemned the ghastly incident on Tuesday while the Supreme Court also took up the matter.
President Pranab Mukherjee, expressed deep sorrow and concern over the sad demise of Nido Taniam. He condemned the violence which preceded Taniam’s demise and called upon law enforcement agencies to make every effort to bring the guilty to justice and ensure the safety and security of all who live in the national capital.
Meanwhile, a court here on Tuesday sent three people, arrested in connection with the death of Nido to judicial custody till February 18. Two of the accused said they were “innocent witnesses” who were “illegally roped in as accused”.
Strongly condemning the killing, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh promised punishment to the guilty and effective protection to people from the North East and other parts of the country in the national capital.
Observing that “human values, amity in society, and the unity and integrity” are at stake, he said all citizens should work together to ensure that “our brothers and sisters from the North East” feel safe and secure in Delhi.
The Prime Minister said his government will make “every possible effort to punish the guilty and to provide effective protection to students and citizens from other parts of the country, especially the North East, who visit or reside in Delhi.”
Singh noted that all political parties in Parliament have affirmed that every Indian should ensure that fellow citizens from the North East feel safe and that every part of the country welcomes them.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who joined hundreds of people at Jantar Mantar demanding action against guilty, said necessary action would be taken against those responsible for the attack on the basis of the magisterial enquiry already ordered by the Delhi government.
“It is a very unfortunate incident. It is not only the fight for people of Northeast. It is our fight. We all have to fight it (racial discrimination),” he said.
DoNER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar, who was also present during the protest, offered all support to the protesting students.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had on Monday joined the protesters at Jantar Mantar and assured them that the government would ensure that they get respect and justice.
Many activists fighting to end discrimination against people from North East also demanded formulation of anti-racial discrimination law in the country. “We will not rest until an anti-racial discrimination law is passed,” said Binalakshmi Nepram, founder of Manipur Gun Survivors Network.
Meanwhile three top lawyers moved the Supreme Court seeking a directive to the Centre to take steps to ensure the safety of students and others from the Northeast who come to the capital for education and employment.
Ranbir Yadav, Baban Kumar Sharma and Abhishek Garg, in their petition, said the death of Nido Taniam, in a racist attack in Delhi was due to inaction of police and other authorities.
The petitioners said the growing uncontrolled racism and discrimination against Northeast students had not only threatened their lives, limbs and liberty but also created genuine apprehension in their minds that their lives would not be protected in other parts of the country. The Delhi High Court had already took suo moto cognizance of the incident.