PC: NE students not more vulnerable than others

Home minister P Chidambaram on Friday said while there was “subtle discrimination” against certain sections of the society, it would be incorrect to suggest that students from the northeast were more vulnerable than those from other regions.

Home minister P Chidambaram on Friday said while there was “subtle discrimination” against certain sections of the society, it would be incorrect to suggest that students from the northeast were more vulnerable than those from other regions.

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He was responding to a calling attention notice by BJP leader in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley following the deaths of two students from the northeast in Gurgaon and Bangalore. “The government will take every step to ensure their security,” Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram said he had no hesitation in saying there was subtle discrimination against certain sections but the scenario had changed. “Some years ago, it was based on language. Sometimes it was based on regions. Every south Indian, who came to Delhi, was called a Madrasi. Things have changed.”

Several members also alleged students were racially profiled during the Brics summit in Delhi. The minister said while some Tibetans were detained amid apprehensions that they might disrupt the summit, police had stated there was no racial profiling. He said only four northeast students were questioned and later released. BJP MPs raised objections over his assertion, saying it was “the understatement of the year.”

He said officers in the DCP rank had been designated to address the problems faced by northeast students and a special cell had also been set up.