Violence against N-E students: MPs ask Centre to take action

NEW DELHI: Anguished over the violence against Northeastern students in some parts of the country, several MPs from the region today asked the Centre to advise the concerned states to take firm and punitive action against the perpetrators.

In a joint letter to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, the MPs from several states and parties sought his immediate intervention in the matter urging him to ascertain the amount of damage already done and "bringing this unnecessary backlash to a halt".

"With deep anguish, we, the MPs representing several Northeastern states, wish to bring to your notice the horrific incidents of backlash against Northeastern students in the cities of Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and other metropolitan cities," they said.

They urged Shinde to advise the state governments to "take firm and punitive action against the perpetrators of this violence".

The signatories included PD Rai ( Sikkim), Thokchom Meinya and T Baite (Manipur), Dip Gogoi and Ranee Narah ( Assam), CM Chang ( Nagaland), CL Ruala (Mizoram) and Ninong Ering ( Arunachal Pradesh).