NEW DELHI, May 2 � Racial profiling and attack on students of North-east have snowballed into a major controversy with the issue rocking the Parliament today.
The plight of students from the North-east studying across the country figured in the Lok Sabha here, when BJP MPs moved an Adjournment Motion today seeking a discussion on the issue. Though the notice was disregarded initially, Ramen Deka and Khagen Das were later allowed to make a Special Mention during the Zero Hour.
Breaking his silence, Kapil Sibal, Minister for HRD, Communications and IT, expressed his deep concern on the recent incidents of alleged discrimination and profiling of students from the NE region pursuing studies in educational institutions.
Sibal felt that educational institutions should rise to the occasion to provide an inclusive and harmonious platform for students from across the country to come together and pursue studies.
Sibal informed that he had asked University Grants Commission (UGC) to formulate a regulation to prevent discrimination in higher education. The UGC, in its meeting on April 2, has finalised regulations following Sibal�s request. Every institution is now required to establish an ombudsman, who would have the power to hear complaints of discrimination in institutions.
Ramen Deka raised the issue in the Lok Sabha regarding security of students from North-east working in National Capital Region. He mentioned about Dana Sangma and Richard Loitram�s cases and described them as an eye opener.
Reeling out a long list of instances of attacks on NE students and refusal of police to lodge FIRs and disinclination of government to take up their case, Deka alleged nothing has been done by the government and Delhi Police to safeguard the students of North-east and women working in the BPO.
The BJP MP demanded a statement by the Union Home Minister on the issue.
Congress MP PC Chackoo, who was on the chair, remarked that it was a very important point. Several MPs, including Satpal Maharaj, Dr Tarun Mandal, Darshana Jardosh and A Sampath among others associated themselves with the issue.
Joining the discussion, CPI-M MP Khagen Das said atrocious treatment meted out towards the people of North-east is evident particularly in metros very frequently. �There were cases of molestation, rape, murder, assault, mugging, robbing. I fail to understand on what basis the Bangalore police are saying that it was an accident and have registered case under natural death,� said Das, referring to Richard Loitram�s case.
