Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Tapir Gao on Monday expressed serious concern over the safety of people from India’s northeastern states living in Delhi, stating that incidents of racial discrimination and violent attacks continue to emerge. He said the matter would be formally raised in Parliament and urged the government to consider introducing a stronger legal framework to safeguard citizens from the region.
His remarks are notable because the Bharatiya Janata Party, to which he belongs, currently governs both Delhi and the central government.
Gao’s statement comes amid renewed anxiety following a recent assault on a woman from Manipur in Delhi’s Saket area. Addressing the media outside Parliament, he said that people from the Northeast frequently feel unsafe not only in the national capital but also across major metropolitan cities in India.
He said individuals from northeastern states continue to face racial discrimination, physical assaults, and even killings in different urban centres, creating a climate of fear and insecurity. According to him, the recurring nature of such incidents demands urgent national attention.
Gao added that he would raise the issue during Zero Hour in Parliament and that a delegation of representatives would also meet the Union Home Minister to press for action. He further suggested that the Centre should explore enacting a law similar in strength to the Atrocities Act to specifically address discrimination and violence faced by people from the Northeast.
He described the situation as a major national concern and emphasised the need for a dedicated legal safeguard to ensure the protection and dignity of citizens belonging to northeastern states.
The concerns intensified after a recent incident involving two individuals from the region in south Delhi. According to police accounts, the episode occurred on Sunday evening near a public park close to the Saket District Court complex, where a woman from Manipur and her friend from Assam were taking a walk. A group of men allegedly passed inappropriate remarks, and when one of the women objected, the confrontation escalated into a physical altercation.
Police officials said a response team reached the location soon after receiving information about the incident and made contact with the victims. Authorities are currently working to identify and locate those accused of the assault.
Reacting to the case, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma strongly condemned the attack and said racial harassment of people from the Northeast must not be normalised. He expressed anger over repeated assaults on northeastern citizens in mainland cities and described the Saket incident as deeply disturbing.
Sangma called for strict action against those responsible and stressed that authorities must ensure such incidents are addressed firmly to prevent recurrence.
The latest episode follows another controversy in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area, where three women from Arunachal Pradesh alleged that they were racially abused by neighbours during a dispute related to air-conditioner installation work. The women claimed that the accused used derogatory slurs and made offensive comments targeting people from the Northeast.
They further alleged that the couple involved in the dispute made defamatory remarks, including calling them sex workers and accusing them of running a massage parlour.
Delhi Police registered a First Information Report under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, invoking sections related to promoting enmity and insulting the modesty of a woman.
Concerns about racism and discrimination against people from the Northeast have been repeatedly raised by regional leaders, student bodies and civil society groups. Many victims report being stereotyped due to their physical features, cultural background, or food habits, and often feel treated as outsiders despite residing, studying or working in major Indian cities for extended periods.
Tapir Gao said the persistent pattern of such incidents makes it essential for Parliament to deliberate on stronger legal protections and ensure that people from northeastern states receive adequate security and equal treatment across the country.
