Protestors took to the streets after Nido Tania (19) was killed in a racial attack. For all its equality rhetoric, India continues to discriminate marginalized groups of people.
Vibi Yhokha
New Delhi | February 3
New Delhi | February 3
An April 2003 report of the Human Genome Project suggests that every human on earth is 99.9% identical. Of the 0.1%, only 10-15% account for differences we see between races of humans. But that ‘10-15%’ difference in the 0.1% of the human DNA was enough to get Nido Tania killed.
“We have ignored it a lot of times. We are not supposed to come and demand for justice. Justice is our right. Justice should be served,” says Ngayeimi Huishunao, General Secretary of the North East Students’ Society, Delhi. Like most North East people in Delhi, Huishunao often walks out of his house knowing that someone on the road will pass a lewd racist remark. And like most people from the North East, he usually ignores the remarks and walks away. “But there are times we cannot tolerate,” Huishunao adds, referring to the Nido Tania’s brutal murder.
“The recent murder is an amplification of what generally happens in Delhi. The consequences of racism are violent,” says Leki from Arunachal, an M Phil student (Sociology) at Delhi University.
Malem Laishram, M Phil student, Jawaharlal Nehru University, feels that such discrimination on racial grounds has become such an accepted norm among “mainlanders” that the voice of the people from the North East can no longer be heard. “We are protesting day after day but it is not stopping at all. The magnitude of racism can be seen through the recent murder and the past ones too,” reflects Laishram.
How do we stop racism? “We must recognize that such prejudices exist. Our leaders do not want to accept it but the fact that this kind of intolerance is happening again and again is enough for us to accept it,” says Tapan Bose.
Laishram agrees. “India should accept that such cases are based on racial discrimination,” he says, believing this to be the first step to stop racism and that debates should be raised on the issue of racism in the Parliament. He also points out obligations on the part of the central government to stop discrimination based on race such as Article 15 of the Indian constitution which prohibits racism.
“This is a larger issue of human rights violation of our own people. It is an issue of democratic rights of our own people,” says Akbar, President of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union, Delhi, who feels that Delhi Police need intense training where they can be sensitized.
“India needs to create a culture of tolerance. It is going to be a long process but it has to begin and it starts from teaching our children,” asserts Bose, who is of the view that there is a need for mixed schools where students from different cultures, regions and communities can study together.
“The North East is not just a geographical entity. It represents a whole different world of varied culture and customs yet is very much a part of India,” adds Laishram.
The protest against the murder of Nido was not just about Nido. It revived the many murders, rapes and assaults on the people from the North East in mainland India; it was a reminder of the justice that was never served.
MHA for zero tolerance
New Delhi, February 3 (PTI): The Centre on Monday directed Delhi Police to adopt zero tolerance approach in cases of attacks on people from northeast and asked it to strictly follow the guidelines in providing security to those hailing from the region.
At a high-level meeting, the Home Ministry directed Delhi Police to immediately register cases of atrocities on people of north-eastern region, launch probe upon receiving complaints and book the guilty. Delhi Police was also asked to sensitise all police stations about the people of north-eastern region living in their respective jurisdiction and resolve their grievances.
This came in the wake of a series of attacks on people from the northeast in the national capital recently, including death of a student from Arunachal Pradesh allegedly after assault by a group of people in Lajpat Nagar. The Home Ministry reminded the city police about the four-page detailed guidelines it issued last year and asked it strictly adhere to them.
According to the guidelines, issued to all state chief secretaries and DGPs and Delhi Police Commissioner, the police forces were asked to increase visible security at places where the people of northeast study, work or reside, maintain utmost vigil in communal and hyper sensitive areas without giving any room for spreading of rumours inciting communal passion.
