Letter to Home Minister of Karnataka

February 7, 2014

Dear Shri KJ George

I write to you on the backdrop of the recent death of Nido Taniam, a 19 year old student from Arunachal Pradesh in the heart national capital New Delhi last week. This experience with racism is not unique to Delhi. Even in Bangalore, I have seen locals sometimes believe that the youth from the North East belong to a different country – purely based on their features, language, dressing and lifestyle. It is a deeply distressing incident and a wakeup call for all and stresses the immediate need for sensitization.

In the wake of such a shocking instance of racial intolerance, and instances of racism in the state in the past, it is essential that we adopt certain measures to ensure such incidents do not occur again.   The Government of Karnataka must take preventive steps to ensure that the state remains safe for people from all parts of the country and the world.

There are five specific steps that are needed to address this problem:

  • First and foremost, there has to be a law against racial discrimination. Work on this should begin immediately. The government must send a strong message of Zero tolerance for racism.

  • Government needs to hold awareness and sensitivity lessons for the police, the lower rungs of which are rampant with issues like discrimination, corruption etc.

  • Our education system needs to include cross-cultural lessons which emphasize the importance of non-discrimination and explain the diversity of India across skin colours, features, gender, cultures, languages, dressing and food habits. The state government must make efforts to feature this in education literature for the state syllabus.

  • Parents need to incorporate, especially amongst young boys, respect - both for women and citizens from other states.

  • Finally, politicians and media need to travel more and provide substantially high coverage to issues and concerns of the North Eastern States.

    • The freedom to reside and settle in any part of the country is a fundamental right enshrined in our constitution. Our country is a great country where people from the North East should be able to live without fear of discrimination and vice versa. 

    I urge you to take urgent steps and ensure the state government takes strong measures that indicate zero tolerance for any forms of racism and discrimination against North East Indians in Bangalore and Karnataka.

    Thanking You,

    Yours sincerely,

    RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

    K J George

    Hon’ble Home Minister

    Government of Karnataka

    Vidhana Soudha

    Bangalore

    Letter to Home Minister of Karnataka

     

    February 7, 2014

    Dear Shri KJ George,

    I write to you on the backdrop of the recent death of Nido Taniam, a 19 year old student from Arunachal Pradesh in the heart national capital New Delhi last week. This experience with racism is not unique to Delhi. Even in Bangalore, I have seen locals sometimes believe that the youth from the North East belong to a different country – purely based on their features, language, dressing and lifestyle. It is a deeply distressing incident and a wakeup call for all and stresses the immediate need for sensitization.

    In the wake of such a shocking instance of racial intolerance, and instances of racism in the state in the past, it is essential that we adopt certain measures to ensure such incidents do not occur again.   The Government of Karnataka must take preventive steps to ensure that the state remains safe for people from all parts of the country and the world.

    There are five specific steps that are needed to address this problem:

    1. First and foremost, there has to be a law against racial discrimination. Work on this should begin immediately. The government must send a strong message of Zero tolerance for racism.

    2. Government needs to hold awareness and sensitivity lessons for the police, the lower rungs of which are rampant with issues like discrimination, corruption etc. 

    3. Our education system needs to include cross-cultural lessons which emphasize the importance of non-discrimination and explain the diversity of India across skin colours, features, gender, cultures, languages, dressing and food habits. The state government must make efforts to feature this in education literature for the state syllabus.

    4. Parents need to incorporate, especially amongst young boys, respect - both for women and citizens from other states.

    5. Finally, politicians and media need to travel more and provide substantially high coverage to issues and concerns of the North Eastern States.

    The freedom to reside and settle in any part of the country is a fundamental right enshrined in our constitution. Our country is a great country where people from the North East should be able to live without fear of discrimination and vice versa. 

    I urge you to take urgent steps and ensure the state government takes strong measures that indicate zero tolerance for any forms of racism and discrimination against North East Indians in Bangalore and Karnataka.

     

    Thanking You,
    Yours sincerely,
    RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

     

    K J George
    Hon’ble Home Minister
    Government of Karnataka
    Vidhana Soudha
    Bangalore