COVID-19: Manipuri Girl Spat on in New Delhi on 'Janata Curfew', Northeast Cries "Racial Abuse"

New Delhi, March 23, 2020:

As novel coronavirus or COVID-19 cases are on the rise, racial discrimination against the Northeastern people with mongoloid features have also increased to a great extent.

Amidst such national health emergency crisis, the Northeastern people have come under sharp attack across different parts of the country due to their "Chinese looking" features. The latest incident has been reported from New Delhi's Vijay Nagar area, wherein a student from Manipur was spat on by an unidentified man on Janata Curfew Day.

This racial attack reportedly took place amidst the pandemic COVID-19 at around 9.30 PM just after the "Janta curfew" ended. According to reports, two Delhi University students went out of their PG to get some groceries when a man in his 40s on a white colored two wheeler drove by and spat paan from mouth on to the girls aiming for their faces.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Arunachal MP Tapir Gao Raises Issue of Racial Discrimination in Parliament

This uncivilized incident took place near the University campus at Vijay Nagar, North-West Delhi. The street was deserted because of the curfew and the man in question took this as an opportunity to carry forth his devious action.

A complaint has been raised to the Delhi Police right after the incident. Due to the effect of the pandemic spread of the disease, most hostelers and PG residents from the Northeast have left for their respective hometowns.

Racial Discrimination against the Northeastern residents in the country has gained momentum in the country, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19. Ironically, the Northeast region is yet to report any positive cases so far.

ALSO READ: BJP Leader Comes Under Fire for Accusing Nagas of Racial Discrimination

Assam Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi took to his Facebook and wrote, "On the wings of Corona onslaught, there is a sudden outburst of racial attacks in last couple of days on the boys and girls of the Northeast presently residing in Delhi and in some other places. Hope the saner elements of our civil society rise to quell this menace."

Racial Discrimination against the Northeastern residents in the capital is no news. There have been cases where people have actually died because of such discrimination.

Earlier the racial slurs stuck to being called "momos, chowmein" or "Nepali". Now, because of the pandemic and because of the Mongolian features that the Northeast has, they are called "Coronavirus".

There have been reports that they are being teased by calling "corona" at sight, treated differently at shops, etc. Videos condemning such racial attacks on Northeast Indians have been shared on social media.

ALSO READ: Fearing Corona Outbreak, Thousands of NE Indians Return to Guwahati Railway Station on Curfew Day

It may be mentioned here that Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, took note of the grave situation. Rijiju, who must have heard many reports of such incidents taking place across the length and breadth of the nation, recently lashed out at these incidents of casual racism.

Taking to Twitter, the leader wrote, “Some incidents of racial remarks against North-East people have emerged in some parts of India in the wake of

 

rel="tag" data-query-source="hashtag_click" data-scribe="element:hashtag">#Coronavirus due to cultural ignorance, prejudice minset & lack of understanding. Matter discussed with NE Division, MHA. Strict advisory is being issued to the States.”

 

Tapir Gao, the second of the BJP Lok Sabha MPs also from Arunachal, had echoed a similar sentiment recently in the Parliament. Addressing the Speaker in the floor of the House, Gao thundered, “Across the country, there is a disease a coronavirus. However, in the midst of the outbreak, the Northeast people have received a double whammy (in the form of discrimination). In universities, colleges, and schools, upon seeing the Northeast students, people are saying: look here comes coronavirus. The Northeast Indian students are even being vacated from hostels and rented houses.”

Ernest Mawrie, the leader of the BJP in Meghalaya, also expressed sorrow at this mistreatment of the NE students. Mawrie, penning a heartfelt note to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, wrote, “Let this letter also serve as a written objection that some people in the national capital are taking unwarranted advantages of the situation when the nation with the rest of the world is terrified and going through a crucial situation at the outbreak and in combating against the dreaded virus COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, social media abounds with children from the Northeast decrying racism that they are facing due in the aftermath of the corona outbreak.

Recently, many posts on social media reveal that Northeast Indians are actually facing a tough time in the rest of Indian states as suspicion grows amid skyrocketing number of cases in the subcontinent.

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