PM promises enough security

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday assured panic-stricken members of the North-Eastern community that adequate security measures will be taken to ensure their safety.

 
“I commit from the government to work with all like-minded people to create a feeling of security among the people of the North-East residing in various parts of our country. They have as much right as anyone else to live, earn and study at any place of choice,” Singh said in the Lok Sabha, during a discussion on the exodus of the North-Easterners from the southern states to their native places.

Describing the growing sense of insecurity among the North-Easterners living out of their home states as “reprehensible,” the Prime Minister said all political parties should join hands to bring the situation under control immediately.

“The unity and integrity of our country is being threatened by certain elements and without apportioning blame, I would urge this House to send a message loud and clear to all the people of the North-East that our people are one, that we will do everything to provide security to the people of the North-East,” he said.

The issue was also discussed at length in the Rajya Sabha where Singh said the recent communal clashes in Assam should not be made a platform to fan rumours. “We must curb all the elements which are out to create trouble on this sensitive issue,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who initiated a discussion on the issue in the Lok Sabha, said the government should launch a helpline for students and deploy police at hostels and shopping malls.

Besides, lawmakers unanimously demanded punitive action against perpetrators of the conspiracy against the North-Easterners. Biju Janata Dal leader Baijayant Panda suggested that the Central Rapid Action Force be assigned to deal with such situations.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde assured the House that the government is already working to identify source of the rumours that sparked off the exodus. “I have asked director, intelligence, to trace those posting (threat) messages in Facebook and other social networking sites.”

In the Rajya Sabha, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said: “A fear psychosis is being created among North-Eastern people and it is a challenge. It is an onerous responsibility on each one of us to make sure that this panic situation and this rumour mongering come to an end.”