Pasighat, April 11, 2020:
Arunachal Pradesh MLA Ninong Ering has become the latest prominent personality from the region to decry the acts of racism against the Northeast Indians in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The MLA has written to the Prime Minister himself demanding an end to the acts of racism against the NE Indians staying in mainland India who are being subjected to racial taunts in the midst of the crisis. Further, he has demanded that the PM, in his address to the nation, address this very pertinent issue.
Writing to the PM, Ering, who represents the Pasight West constituency, said, "It breaks my heart to see such differences in our country when the need of the hour is to be united, taking precautions in such a pandemic is acceptable but losing ones humanity isn’t. I humbly request you to address this issue during your address to the nation as it may sensitise citizens to respect our being", Ering said.
In the same letter, Ering highlighted some of his concerns in regards to the issue. "I am concerned about the people from north eastern regions especially who are residing in big cities of our country. The ethics of our country are being violated, due to COVID 19 citizens from north east have been facing Ill treatment", he wrote.
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The Arunachal MLA has rued that being called "corona" or "virus" is affecting the people from the Northeast on a "psychological" level.
Ering further pointed out some recent racist acts to the PM Minister. "Recently in Delhi’s north campus area, a man on a scooty spat paan on a woman from Manipur, calling her ‘corona’ as he sped away", bringing Modi's notice to one of the most shocking incidents in recent memory.
The Arunachal MLA said that it was especially shocking to learn how a north eastern was called “corona” by a small child at a grocery store in Bengaluru. "Moreover two people from Manipur were denied entry at a Hyderabad supermarket", he said, citing a recent incident that occurred on Wednesday.
"It makes me wonder how far this racial discrimination has taken root. India is a signatory of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, but does not have any laws specific to racism", the Arunachal Congress leader further told the Prime Minister in his letter.
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From incidents of spitting and beatings to cases of murder, how many horrific racial attacks are there, this is the question of all the north eastern citizens who have been abused by the mainland citizens, Ering further added in his letter.
Several other leaders from the Northeast Indian states have also voiced their concerns as the reports of crassly racist acts keep coming in. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, talking to Inside Northeast yesterday, has demanded “strict action” against those who commit racial discrimination against the people from the Northeast Indian state because of their mongoloid features. Sangma, terming the recent reports of racism against the Northeast as “very unfortunate”, has demanded that stringent action be taken against the perpetrators of the racist deeds.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, taking note of the acts of crass racism against Northeast Indians in the wake of the outbreak of the COVID-19, has appealed for “compassion, understanding and love” in the trying and testing times.
Mizoram’s Chief Minister Zoramthanga too has decried these acts towards NE Indians, mostly students who are studying outside. The chief minister took to Twitter after a video showing youths from the Northeast being allegedly denied entry to a grocery shop in Mysuru. “I am pained, shocked and awed seeing this video. When has humanity stooped so low?” Zoramthanga asked as he attached the video with his tweet.
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