CM condemns ‘racial abuse’ at Khasi woman in Delhi

OUR BUREAU 

SHILLONG/NEW DELHI, 27: Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma has strongly condemned the alleged racial discrimition against the Khasi woman, Tailin Lyngdoh in Delhi Golf Club on Sunday and termed it “ucceptable, distasteful and racial behaviour” even as the Club magement on Tuesday issued an apology. 

Lyngdoh was allegedly shunted out of Delhi Golf Club for “looking like a maid”. 

Lyngdoh, who was wearing a Jainsem, a dress worn by the indigenous Khasi women in her state, was told by club officials that she needed to vacate the place as she looked a like a “dustbin”.

Taking cognizance of the episode where Lyngdoh was asked to leave because she is looking like a maid in her jainsem-the traditiol attire of the Khasis, Chief Minister Sangma, who is currently in Delhi  issued a statement on Tuesday stating, “This incident of racial behaviour of the people who do not understand the very spirit of the inclusiveness of this tion is ucceptable, distasteful and racial discrimition that needs to be condemned by one and all and calls for all necessary action as per the law of the land.”

The Chief Minister also said that he has urged Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home, to take cognisance of this ucceptable racial behaviour and atrocities against a Scheduled Tribe woman and to have a suo motu case registered and take all legal options available so that it becomes a strong deterrence in future. 

Sangma also said that such racial discrimition has been happening all these years in a number of places and this particular racial behaviour is not an instance in isolation. 

He stated that all legal options available according to Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 and Fundamental Rights with its relevant Articles will be taken advantage of so such behaviour is not repeated in future.

The Chief Executive member (CEM) of the KHADC Pynshngain N Syiem has also reacted sharply to the incident. “The KHADC will write to Delhi Golf Club seeking an immediate apology for its racial slur on the Khasi woman who was part of the party hosted by a lady.   

The Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO) has also condemned the incident. 

“This arrogant and ignorant attitude of the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) members is not acceptable to civil society, as it is also amounting to racial discrimition of certain persons and this is unconstitutiol and a violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees the right to equality, to every citizen of India,” stated the CSWO president Agness Kharshiing.

The CSWO has demanded an immediate apology from the members of the DGC and urge the tiol Commission for Women and the Meghalaya State Women Commission to take note of this insult and discrimition and ensure no further discrimition to her or others in future. 

On the other hand, the Club magement, issuing an apology, said, “We have sought explation from the staff and discipliry action is in process. Apology has been made to the member who had brought the guest. This has been unconditiolly accepted,” the Club said in a statement.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that he has asked the Delhi police commissioner to initiate an inquiry into the incident. “Change of mentality could definitely avert this kind of incident,” said Rijiju.