Shillong, February 23 (IANS). Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday strongly condemned the alleged racial abuse of three women from Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area, terming the incident as ‘extremely unfortunate’ and ‘completely unacceptable’.
Sangma, reacting to the incident, expressed concern over the safety and dignity of people from the North-East living in other parts of the country and demanded greater sensitivity and accountability from the society and authorities.
Speaking to mediapersons in Shillong, the Chief Minister said, “The recent incident that happened to our north-eastern citizens of Arunachal Pradesh in Malviya Nagar is extremely unfortunate. It is unacceptable in today’s society.”
He said the alleged language, words and behavior used during the incident reflect a disturbing mentality and highlight the continuing challenges faced by people of the North East living outside the region.
“The kind of language used, the kind of words used and even the body language was very disturbing and completely unacceptable,” Sangma said.
He stressed that such incidents should not be repeated and that citizens of all regions of the country, no matter where they live, should feel safe, protected and respected. This requires collective efforts.
Sangma also urged the authorities concerned to take the matter seriously and ensure appropriate legal action against the culprits. He said that incidents of racial abuse weaken the spirit of unity, inclusivity and diversity, which is the identity of India.
The Chief Minister said that the people of the North-East contribute significantly to the social, cultural and economic life of cities across the country and they should be treated with dignity and respect.
“The North-East is an integral part of this country, and any form of discrimination against its people cannot and should not be tolerated,” he said.
The incident in Malviya Nagar has drawn widespread condemnation in the Northeast, and political leaders and civil society organizations have demanded strict action against the accused and stronger measures to prevent racial discrimination.
Reiterating his solidarity with the victims, Sangma said governments at both the state and central levels should work in coordination to ensure justice and prevent recurrence of such incidents.
–IANS
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