Home Min to send advisories to states on racially motivated incidents: Rijiju

Bangalore: Union Home Ministry will be issuing advisory to state governments on mechanisms to deal stringently with any racially motivated incident, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday.
“Racial discrimination should not exist in India, and for that we are going to issue certain advisories to various state governments that there must be stringent provision in the law and mechanism to deal with any incident which is racially motivated,” Rijiju said.
Speaking at North-East Conclave organised by the Karnataka BJP North-East Samparka (communication) Cell, he said “we are working on that… we will be very very strict with regard to any action committed by a person which is racially motivated. We are very clear about that.”
Stressing on the need for awareness within and outside the community, he said “It is not that N-E people are only discriminated. There are cases of south Indians- they feel they are discriminated in North India, and there are other people who feel they are discriminated in North-East India …”
“It’s a challenge, we must be able to quell and finish any act of discrimination on the basis of race,” he said during his interaction with the North-Eastern community here.
His comments come in the backdrop of recent attacks on some persons from North-East community in Bangalore and Haryana.
Speaking to reporters later, he said as a nodal ministry, Ministry of Home Affairs would be issuing certain advisories to the state governments where these kinds of problems faced by North-East people can be dealt more sensitively.”
“… because when you talk about something that is racial in nature it becomes different connotation… it becomes sensitive and back home (North-East) the message becomes very negative. It is not good for the nation”, he said.
“To link the people of North-Eastern region and the mainland more closely, we must have people’s participation, and the government has to act more pro-actively, that is why certain advisories are necessary. We will issue it,” Rijiju said.
“For that, we are scrutinising the submission of Bezbaruah committee which is with the Ministry of Home, we are working on that. I’m sure majority of the recommendations will be implemented,” he said.
He advocated more interaction between the North-East community and local population to avoid such racial incidents.
Responding to a question on racial attack on a Manipuri youth in Bangalore, he said “Government (state) is acting on it. I was very particular that such incidents should not happen and the state home Minister and police have assured that any such incidents in future will be dealt with much more strictly, and they will be more vigilant so that such incidents don’t take place.”
Without directly naming former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Anant Kumar speaking at the conclave said, “I’m very surprised. I don’t want to name anybody, but people came to North-East and became Rajya Sabha member from there, and after becoming Rajya Sabha member they did not come back to North-East to do any development,” Kumar said.
He said “they used Assam not to contest election but to become a Rajya Sabha member for four times in a row, but I assure you, by god’s grace we will not come there to become public representatives, we will get elected from here only. If at all we come to North-East we will come there with love and affection to serve you as your brothers.”
Speaking about his ministry’s proposed projects for the region, he said “we are going to build a biggest ever fertiliser plant in Namrup (Assam), the most ultra-modern fertiliser plant, and I assure you within the next six months the foundation will be laid in Namrup for that Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited’s fertiliser plant.”
Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said within another three years “you will see that all the state capitals of North -East will get railway connectivity…” (PTI)