Parties unite for northeast, PM assures safety
Friday August 17, 2012 02:46:38 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: MPs cutting
across party lines Friday spoke as one in support of people from
the northeast with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declaring in both
houses of parliament that all parties would together ensure that
those from the region were safe in all parts of the country.
With thousands of students, professionals and others fleeing
places like Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad after rumours that they
would be attacked, members in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha
discussed the issue at length. Question hour was adjourned in both
houses.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, the prime minister said: "It is our
obligation to protect the people of northeast. The government will
discharge its duty to the best of its ability so that a feeling of
insecurity among people of northeast is brought under control."
"Such acts are most reprehensible. The unity and integrity of
India is being threatened by some elements," he said.
"What is at stake is the unity and integrity of our country, what
is at stake is communal harmony, and it is the solemn obligation
of all of us, regardless of the party, that we may work together
to create an atmosphere where this rumour mongering will come to
an end (so) that people of northeastern states feel genuinely that
any part of our country welcomes them," he added in the Rajya
Sabha.
Stating that the country belongs to them as much as to anybody
else, he said: "As patriots we must send out the message to all
those who want to disturb peace between any regions or
communities, that this house stands united that we will work
together to give them security, to curb and effectively control
all elements who are out to create trouble."
The prime minister also said that "rumour mongers" and
"miscreants" would be brought to book.
The message was echoed by members of both houses.
"The government should create a helpline for students; deploy
police around hostels and shopping malls. The house should pass a
resolution to assure the northeastern students that the government
and parliament will protect them," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
leader Sushma Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha.
Ninag Ering, Congress MP from Arunachal East constituency, said
the government must punish culprits spreading rumours.
"There is a fear factor among students from the northeast. The
government must identify and punish the rumour mongers. It is sad
that people from northeast with Mongoloid features are being
targeted across India," Ering said.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley added in the Rajya Sabha: "The onus and
responsibility is on us to make sure this panic situation comes to
an end this rumour mongering comes to an end".
Some members also urged the government to temporarily suspend the
electronic messaging services through which threats and rumours
were being spread.
The rare unanimity saw Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar say that the
"serious and sensitive" discussion on the exodus of the northeast
people was evidence of the house speaking in one voice.
To loud thumping of desks from the benches, she appreciated the
sentiment of oneness in the house and said: "Northeast ke
bhai-baheno, hum tumhare saath hain, yeh desh tumhara hai.
(Brothers and sisters from the northeast, we are with you, this
country is yours)."
Wild rumours have been spreading that people from the northeast
region would be attacked after Eid on Aug 20 to avenge the recent
ethnic violence in Assam, in which more than 74 people were
killed.
The rumours have caused over 5,000 students from northeast to flee
to Guwahati from Bangalore by special trains till late Wednesday.
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