DIMAPUR, MARCH 29 (MExN): The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has called upon the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Ministers of the States to take strong action against acts of discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A press release from the CHRI further urged for the launch of an information and social media campaign, hotlines and nodal groups to prevent racial attacks.
It stressed on the need for a united action against the pandemic across boundaries of community and profession.
"As you are aware, in the past few weeks, persons from the North-East states of India have become targets for racist attacks, physical and verbal," CHRI's Chairperson WajahatHabibullah and International Director Sanjoy Hazarika said in a letter to the Prime Minister.
"They have been beaten, dragged out of restaurants, threatened with boycott, told to leave rented accommodation and spat upon. This has been an ugly reflection of prejudice across the country," the letter added.
Habibullah and Hazarika noted that even when persons from this region have “engaged with and embraced this country and travelled widely to study, settle and earn livelihoods,” they continued to experience “the sting of discrimination and prejudice".
"Working professionals, students and ordinary residents of this country have been called ‘corona’ or ‘Chinese’ and held responsible for 'bringing the virus' to India," the letter said.
Doctors, caregivers and pilots, who are selflessly discharging their duties at the forefront of India’s war against COVID-19, have also faced humiliation at the fear of infection. They have been assaulted and even asked to vacate their homes, the CHRI pointed.
