Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Make north easterners feel secure) that was published in Newsband

Make north easterners feel secure

Students and workers from Assam and other north-eastern States are fleeing from cities fearing ethnically-targeted violence. India’s tenuous social fabric is once again under severe strain. Mysterious calls and text messages about impending attacks in retaliation for the violence against Muslims in Assam have spread panic among people from the northeast working or studying in cities. Thousands of people from the northeast quit jobs and left their studies midway to return home. They are naturally panicky and are feeling insecure.

These people have discovered that their distinctive physical features always marked them out as outsiders. They filled a gap in the market economy, but found no social acceptance beyond their immediate environment.

The thing is there are unknown individuals and groups out there actively trying to create panic and drive a wedge between these two minority groups. The intelligence agencies must spare no effort to identify these elements. These people need security.

The cities of India need to be more welcoming toward its fellow-citizens from the northeast. Discrimination and harassment at the workplace and at educational institutions can breed deep insecurity, which could then, at the slightest trigger, lead to panic situations. Our people should become tolerant. Prejudice against ethnic or other minorities should stop. Every effort must be made to bring all those who have fled back to their homes, jobs and studies.

It is a national shame that Indians had to flee from one part of India to other because of ethnic violence. Media should stop giving communal colour to such incidents. That creates in the minds of readers prejudice against certain section of people. Irresponsible behaviour of the media can threaten national security. 

There should be an initiation of requisite concrete steps to allay the fears created through false rumours floated by some vested interests in the minds of the migrants who have been anticipating threat to their lives, and thus fleeing from the cities after leaving their jobs, studies etc. The prevailing trend is a very dangerous one. None can now precisely fathom out the grave consequences it might lead to, if left unchecked. Those responsible for floating the rumours should be traced and punished severely. The state governments concerned should issue a 'please come back' call to the migrants who have fled, assuring their safety. Quick restoration of normalcy will be in the best interests of the country.

The barrier created between the public and government has accelerated the situation to worst. Political parties cunning policies to blur the efficiency of the government workers have blocked providing any information or little information to public .This has made the public to handle the situation on their own, instead of waiting for the government officials to clarify the situation.