Treat Us As Your Brothers and Sisters, Not as 'Chinkies': Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal to Mainland Indians

Guwahati, August 9, 2019:

The ascension of Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, who has become the talk of the entire country after his passionate in Parliament speech left everybody stunned because of its precision and clarity, has been quick, to say the least.

The MP, who belongs to one of the remotest regions in the country, quickly brought the region to mainstream consciousness with his fervent appeals to include Ladakh in the nation's collective consciousness and his condemnation of the Congress administrations of yore for neglecting the concerns of the Ladakhi population.

At the same time, the MP reposed his faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that "Modi hai toh mumkin hai", (as long as Modi is there, anything is possible). It cannot be denied that overnight, a star was born, as his speech was shared extensively on social media platforms and accrued several millions of views across the platforms. So who is this overnight political sensation and what is his driving principle? Well, for one, he is someone who feels very strongly about India's Northeastern states and the tribal communities inhabiting the country.

While speaking exclusively to Inside Northeast Editor-in-Chief Afrida Hussain, the former social worker says that despite his meteoric rise to stardom, he still considers himself a "common citizen" of the country. Speaking about the problems faced by the remote bordering areas of India, including the Northeast Indian states, he says that it stems from the "otherization" of the tribal people dwelling in the far-flung areas, and branding of them as 'chinkies' by mainland India. "I want to request all the citizens of this country to accept us as your brothers and sisters", he appeals. Furthermore, he goes on to appeal the people not to judge the tribal people by the way they look and pass comments on their appearance on the streets.

"These people are the gems of India", he adds, referring to the the tribal communities, adding that the diversity in the nation, India, adds to its beauty.

He also has a special message for the people of the Northeast. "Be proud and feel the unique in our culture, our identity, and don't be discouraged after listening to the comments on the streets. Be proud as Indian citizens", he said.

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