Gangtok, Feb 24: Prem Singh Tamang expressed concern over the alleged racial discrimination against three women from Arunachal Pradesh in New Delhi, describing the episode as “concerning and unfortunate”.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said such incidents underscored the need to uphold dignity and mutual respect at all times. He asserted that the Northeast was an integral part of the country and that every citizen deserved equality and respect, irrespective of their place of origin. He added that society must work towards fostering understanding and harmony.
His reaction came after three young women from Arunachal Pradesh alleged that they were racially abused and intimidated by their neighbours in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area.
According to reports, the incident occurred on February 20 when the women had called an electrician to install an air conditioner in their rented flat on the fourth floor of an apartment building. Dust and drilling debris reportedly fell onto the floor below during the installation, leading to an argument with neighbours identified as Harsh Singh and Ruby Jain.
The disagreement allegedly escalated into a heated confrontation, during which the women claimed they were subjected to racial remarks and offensive comments about their identity. One of the women, who was preparing for the UPSC civil services examination and had been residing in the National Capital Region for over two years, said the situation intensified due to the language used against them.
The women alleged that they were targeted because of their appearance and the way they spoke Hindi, and said they were often presumed to be foreigners. A video of the incident that surfaced online showed a verbal altercation in the apartment lobby, with a police officer present at the scene attempting to defuse the situation.
