Chidambaram denies charges of discrimination with northeast students

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has denied to such a charged that northeastern students are more vulnerable to discrimination than any other students from other states. He said that govt. is providing them full security and such a statement is not correct.

Chidambaram stated the facts in Rajya Sabha in reply to a calling attention motion moved by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Home Minister said that state governments were responsible for providing safety and security to people residing in their regions. He added that as far as Delhi is concerned, a lot of measures have been taken for the same.

The issue was raised in the upper house of the parliament following the deaths of three northeast students last month.

Chidambaram said that any student belonging to northeast is free to travel and reside in any part of the country. They have right to security and peace and governments are obliged to ensure their safety and security.

Union government will take every step to ensure security. He said that he is confident about the fact that all the state governments will discharge their constitutional duties to ensure safety and security to the northeastern students.

He quoted that in 2012, eight cases of offences against women from northeast were reported. Out of eight cases, seven of these have been worked out and 11 persons arrested. In 2011, seven cases were registered, six prosecuted and 10 arrested, he added.

(With inputs from IANS)