From our Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, Aug 17: Chairman of the Northeastern India Congress Committee (NEICC) DD Lapang criticized the Government of Meghalaya for living in a State of denial on the recent incidents of violence perpetrated on the students of the State and the region in some metropolitan cities.

On Thursday, the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma as well as the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills separately told newsmen that reports of assault on the student communities of the state were found to be rumours. The NEICC Chairman told newsmen on Friday, “The Government should admit the fact that there were some cases of atrocities in some cities. I will not believe that it is a rumour when hundreds of students are arriving in Guwahati everyday”.

Taking a virtual dig at Mukul Sangma for downplaying the incidents, Lapang who is also the Chief Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya, said, “He (Mukul Sangma) is from the Northeast and he should have verified before saying that it is a rumour”, adding, “The word rumour is contrary to the actual ground realities.”  

Lapang further quipped, “Even as he asked why does the Government suddenly come up with a help line?”

Moreover, the Chairman of NEICC also rushed a letter to the Union Minister of Home Affairs Sushil Kumar Shinde, asking him to initiate action to stem this violence so that it does not have repercussion elsewhere.

The letter of Lapang also stated, “This is not the first instance that such discriminatory attacks have been made on the students community from the Northeast. Such incidents are bound to affect their mindset and performance while also posing a grave threat to their security”.

Meanwhile some students who came from Bangalore admitted that there is a threat perception on the Northeast students in some areas of Bangalore. A student identified as Shildar Langte said, “We were not assaulted but were told by a group of youths to leave the city by August 20”.