New Delhi: After the outrageous incident involving a 25-year-old, that drew a sharp criticism, evoked fear and anger among the northeast folks, Suhas Chakma, Director of Rights and Risks Analysis Group urges PM Modi to address the Xenophobia shown towards the northeastern citizens.
Amidst growing concerns over the novel coronavirus in the country, a man spitted on a 25-year-old northeastern girl and linked her with ‘corona’ in the heart of the national capital on Sunday evening.
Keeping a sharp vigil over the increasing acts of racism and racial discrimination against the northeasterners, especially those with mongoloid features residing in different metropolitan cities amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Rights and Risk Analysis Group (RRAG) have released a report which says that so far so, 22 more cases of racial discrimination or hate crimes from 7th February 2020 to 25th March 2020 has been recorded.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Suhas Chakma, Director, RRAG said “This is not a new thing, if the leader of our country fails to convey a message to people of the nation of not harassing people from northeast for their appearance and features, then such shameful acts would increase further."
Read: Manipur woman who was spat on calls for stringent anti-racial laws
“If the Prime Minister can address nation to stop harassing medical professionals at this time of crisis, then why not convey people to stop harassing northeasterners, who might have Chinese looks but they very much belong to India. Nobody should harass anyone for their physical features. He should make a public statement condemning upsurge of racial attacks”, he added.
Chakma, further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the political parties, other leaders of northeast to take serious call over the matter and raise voice against it.
He also highlighted on the need to strengthened the education system and include study of northeast India as a part of the curriculum. “Education system should focus on the need to provide knowledge about the diversity of the country”, he reiterated.
In the aftermath of the outbreak of pandemic, there has been massive and unprecedented upsurge of acts of racism and racial discrimination against them across the length and breadth of the country. India’s Mongoloid looking people living in other parts of the country, especially in the metropolis of India face these acts of racism and racial discrimination more frequently.
Apart from being called “Chinese”, “Chinki”, northeastern folks were spat on and called “coronavirus” and forcibly quarantined despite showing no COVID-19 symptoms because of their looks.
Further, they were denied entry into apartment complex, threatened with eviction from their apartment, shunted out of restaurants with none wanting to share transport with them.
The acts of racism and racial discrimination have taken place in upscale restaurants and campuses of prestigious institutions like Kirori Mal College of Delhi University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The incidents had taken place across many states including Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal and Maharashtra.
Moreover, what is more heart wrenching is that Nine Naga youths were forced to undergo 24 hours quarantine in Ahmedabad for their looks. This shows the ignorance and infidelity among the masses who despite being literates leaves no chance to look down upon their northeast brothers and sisters.
Racial discrimination is not a new thing and over the years, young people who migrate to different parts of the country seeking jobs and education has been victims of such dire acts and it is the need of the hour to put an end to it.
