Northeast Democratic Alliance to urge Centre to deter racial discrimination

GUWAHATI: The Northeast Democratic Alliance has said that it will urge the Centre to frame a strong law to deter incidents of racial discrimination such as the one at Delhi Golf Club, where an elderly woman from Meghalaya was allegedly turned back for wearing a traditional dress worn by Khasis.

On Sunday, Lyngdoh, a governess employed by the health advisor in Assam government, Nivedita Barthakur, was allegedly turned back although she was also invited for lunch at the Delhi Golf Club by a member.

“In past also such incidents have happened with people from Northeast India. We will take up with the Centre to frame a strong law in this regard,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma, the convener of NEDA, a platform of non-Congress parties floated by the BJP. “From NEDA platform we are working on evolving a mechanism where people from Northeast do not have to face the same outside the region.”

Lyngdoh said, "They told me to leave the dining hall as maids were not allowed. They were very rude. I felt ashamed and angry.”

She said she was dressed in traditional Khasi dress Jainsem at the time. “They said this dress is not allowed. They also told me that I look like a Nepali. I have been to many other countries, but this has never happened to me. Surprised to know that this has happened here in Delhi,” she said.