Displaying great camaraderie, political parties of all hues in the Lok Sabha, on Friday, unitedly expressed solidarity with the people of the Northeast who have come under repeated attacks in some states, and called on the administration to deal with mischief-mongers and anti-social elements ruthlessly.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh promised to leave no stone unturned to restore normalcy. Dr Singh said, “The growing sense of insecurity among the people from the Northeast fleeing different parts of the country is most reprehensible.
” He asserted that people from the Northeast had every right to work and study in any part of the country and promised to provide full security to the victims of the recent violence. He said, “We will do everything to provide them security.”
Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde urged the people of Northeast, who left various states and cities fearing a backlash, to return to the places they left.
Leader of the Opposition in the House Sushma Swaraj called on the authorities to set up helplines to address grievances of people from the Northeast and step up patrolling in areas where people from the region live.
Meanwhile, Karnataka deputy CM and home minister R. Ashoka said six companies of Rapid Action Force would be deployed in parts of the city to instill confidence among the people of Northeast.
Elsewhere in Lucknow, a protest march turned violent as a group of people, shouting slogans against alleged atrocities on minorities, resorted to stone pelting. Police had to resort to lathi-charge.