DIMAPUR, MARCH 31 (MExN): The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has written to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi urging the latter to ensure the safety of people from the North East in other parts of the country.
A press release from the NPMHR said that as India and the world fight against COVID-
19,there are wide spread reported cases of racial profiling, violence and discrimination perpetrated against the people from the Northeast region living and working in different cities of India. Many other cases go unreported, it added.
The NPMHR said that the rise of cases of racism has caused fear and insecurity to the North East people, in addition to collective fear of the COVID-19 virus. “People, especially women from the region living in different cities are fearful of venturing out even around their immediate localities to buy daily essentials,” it said.
The fear and insecurity are compounded by the uncertainties surrounding employment and livelihood due to the necessary lockdown. Students and people working in the unorganized sectors who make upmost of the Northeast population in the cities are deeply affected, it added.
The NPMHR therefore appealed to the PM to take stringent action against any form of racism towards people from the Northeast, anywhere in India;protection from eviction and harassment of Northeast tenants by landlords in cities across India; setting up of shelters for stranded North East people;concessions on all forms of rent for Northeast students, non-working and vulnerable populations.
“We hope and pray that, difficult time like this will not deter your unwavering support to northeast people so far, and we would like to believe that your leadership will help in stopping racism in this hour of crisis,” it said.
