Insecurity among people from North-East 'reprehensible’: PM

Parliament today expressed alarm at the fear psychosis that has gripped people from the North-East in some other parts of the country, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warning stern action against those behind the “most reprehensible” act of creating insecurity.

Both Houses of Parliament showed solidarity with the people of the North-East, with the Rajya Sabha adopting a resolution demanding a thorough probe into the spread of rumours that have created panic.

Singh asserted that the Government would do everything to control the situation and provide security to the people of the North-East, as he decried the use of incidents in Assam and other areas as an excuse for fanning rumours and creating insecurity.

Speaking on the burning issue in both Houses, he said the North-East region was a “very sensitive issue” and said those spreading rumours would be brought to book. He urged the people to maintain the unity and integrity of the country.

His remarks came as Parliament, rising above party politics, spoke in unison against the panic created among people from the North-East in States including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Both the Houses took up an impromptu debate on the issue amid demands for suspension of Question Hour. While Question Hour was suspended in the Upper House, Speaker Meira Kumar took up the issue without any suspension in the Lok Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha passed a resolution declaring that it was one with the people of North-East and shared its concern over the fleeing of people from different parts of the country.

In the Lok Sabha, Kumar thanked all political parties in helping send an unmistakable signal of the Lok Sabha’s solidarity with the people.

“We will do everything to provide them security,” Singh said, terming as “most reprehensible” the growing sense of insecurity among them.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today described as “reprehensible” the growing sense of insecurity among people from the North-East living in other parts of the country and promised that his Government is committed to take all steps to control the situation.

Singh condemned all such incidents during a debate in the Lok Sabha on the violence in Kokrajhar, as also in Mumbai and other parts of the country against people from the North-East.

“The growing sense of insecurity among the people from the North-East fleeing different parts of the country is something most reprehensible,” he said.

Singh promised that he commits his Government to work with all “like-minded” people to work together to bring the situation under control without any loss of time.

He emphasised that people from the North-East had “as much right” as anybody else to study and work in any part of the country.

Singh urged the people to maintain unity and integrity of the country. The people are one and “we will do everything to provide them security,” he said.

The Prime Minister said security was an obligation for his Government and it will provide this to the best of its ability.

“We should send a clear message that we will do everything to provide security to people from the North-East living in various parts of the country,” he said.

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