M A I N   N E W S

MPs back N-E migrants; PM promises action
Aditi Tandon/Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 17
As people from the North-East continued to flee from Karnataka and Maharashtra amid fears of backlash in the aftermath of Kokrajhar violence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised immediate action to control the situation.

Terming as “reprehensible” the growing sense of insecurity among people from the region, the Prime Minister said the north-eastern population has the same right as any other Indian to live, study and earn where ever they wanted.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde appealed to the displaced people to return to their places of work and study.

The PM and the Home Minister were speaking during a debate on the issue in both the Houses of Parliament.

While the Rajya Sabha unanimously passed a resolution supporting the displaced people, the Lok Sabha saw Speaker Meira Kumar declare: “Let this clarion call from the Parliament ring bells of alarm in the hearts of miscreants who have caused immense hurt to our friends from the North-East and to us. Let them be afraid that they would be punished.” Back in the RS, Chairman Hamid Ansari read out the resolution, “This House firmly opines that as citizens of this country, people from the North-East have a right to live in any part of India. Full security should be provided to them. We appeal to all those who are returning to the North-East not to be misled by false rumours and to come back to their places of study or work.”

Shinde said 170 persons have been arrested in Assam, 24 in Mumbai and 13 in Pune for attacking students and workers from the North-East following the Kokrajhar violence. “All states have been told to provide security to them,” Shinde said.

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj led the debate after the Speaker allowed the same during Question Hour which she refused to suspend despite notices. Sushma appealed to the Centre to set up helplines and establish police pickets in areas where people from northeastern states lived.

An emotional JDU chief Sharad Yadav almost fought with the Speaker when she asked him to cut short his speech when he was seeking answers from the government as to why they were unable to arrest those who attacked people from the N-E in Assam, Mumbai and then Pune and why were they lining up trains to facilitate their escape.