Political leaders urges MHA to ensure security to NE students

Shillong, July 16 (UNI) Major political parties today urged the Union Home Ministry to ensure security and safety of students and visitors from the Northeast in the wake of a ''pejorative booklet'' issued by Delhi Police.

The Delhi Police had, recently, circulated a booklet titled ''Security Tips for Northeast Students or Visitors in Delhi'', which evoked widespread anger from various social organisations and political parties in the region.

The booklet advised girls from the region to avoid wearing ''revealing dresses'' and ''avoid lonely roads or bylane when dressed scantily''. As for food habits, the booklets advised that preparation of ''bamboo shoot, akhuni and other smelly dishes'' should be prepared without creating ruckus in the neighbourhood.

Most of the North-East residents termed the booklet as ''racial'' and having a tendency to further alienate the people of the region from the rest of the country. The MPs from the region have decided to take up the matter with Home Ministry.

''The booklet has nothing but insulted the people of the region on their food habits and dress code,'' former Lok Sabha Speaker and veteran political leader Purno a Sangma told UNI here today.

Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Khiren Rijju, who is on his way to the national capital, said he would soon meet Home Minister Shivraj Patil and lodge a protest against the booklet.

Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith M Sangma said no one can suggest food habits and dress code to someone in this country.

''India is a secular country and no one has the right to deprive the traditional rights of the people,'' he said.

The North East Student's Organisation, apex student's body in the region, has termed the separate code of conduct a ''racial'' remark to the student community from the region.

''Why isn't there a separate booklet for others from other states or region of the country,'' an agitated NESO Chairman Samujal Bhattacharyya said.

Mr Bhattacharyya informed that all students' bodies from the region would meet in Shillong in August to discuss on the issue before taking up with the concerned authorities.

UNI