Discrimination in DU

Another incident of racial discrimination against people from the north-eastern region has oc curred, this time in the heart of the national capital. The alleged culprit is said to be the prestigious Delhi University (DU), whose administration had last week allegedly exerted pressure on female students from the Northeast to vacate their hostels and meted out racial discrimination against them. A number of female students from the region staying in the different hostels of Delhi University have been stuck there because of the lockdown. Since there has been no alternative, these students continued to stay put in their respective hostels, only to be "pressurized" by the University authorities to vacate. The issue has reached such a pass that a section of the harassed students approached the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), which on Monday issued a notice to the Registrar of Delhi University. In view of the seriousness of the matter, the Delhi Commission for Women has also asked the Delhi University authorities to provide an action taken report, apart from asking them to provide all facilities to the students. DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has meanwhile gone on record that the students from the Northeast have no choice but to stay in the hostel due to the lockdown. "The students have also complained to the Commission about racist comments being made against them," she was quoted as having said. If this is true, then Delhi University has really stooped very low. Interestingly, the Delhi Commission for Women notice has come when Union Minister for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), Jitendra Singh had issued an assurance that no student boarder from the region would be thrown out. "Students from Northeast in Delhi University hostel, please note. The issue that arose last night as a result of eviction notice to some of you to leave the hostel has been sorted out. You can continue to stay where you are, comfortably and safely. Have spoken to VC DU Prof Tyagi," DoNER Minister Singh had said in a tweet on Sunday. If a Union Minister has to intervene in such a matter, it is really shameful for Delhi University.