Many hail Mizoram CM’s statement

IMPHAL, Jun 26 [TSE]: Imphal: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla’s statement that he too was a victim of racism but in India, his home country has been hailed by a number of social activists and general public terming it as a bold statement. Lalthanhawla made the statement at a conference in Singapore yesterday. Sobita Mangsatabam , a key leader of Women Action for Development ( Wad), a prominent NGO in the State said, ‘‘He (Lalthan-hawla) is bold enough to highlight the true pangs buried in the minds of the people of the north east region before the interna- tional forum. We strongly hail his statement’’.

Echoing Lalthanhawlas statement, Sobita said she does not feel good when she stays in metropolitan cities of India, but feels secure in South East Asian countries.

‘‘Whenever I land in Kolkata, New Delhi, Chen-nai or any other cities of the country, people always asked me if I am from Nepal or some from other countries. They do not respect me as a fellow citizen even after knowing that I’m from Manipur’’, Sobita lamented. ‘‘I feel secure when I go to South east Asian countries. The hospitality given by the people of these countries is quite different from what our own country men do. This is very unfortunate’’, she added.

Social worker Achinpou Gangmei, who is also the advisor of Tamenglong Public Forum, said the statement that has come from such a leader and responsible person like the Chief Minister of a State has virtually taught a lesson to those people living in mainland India who ignore the NE people.

‘‘The mainland people should first correct their mindset to think that the NE people are also the citizens of India before they put their blame on others’’. Gangmei said. The freque-nt incidents of murder, rape, molestation and manhandling of girls from Northeast India by the mainland people is enough example of such undesired outlook, he said, while questioning the meaning and significance of the ongoing campaign for Nati- onal integration when the people of Northeast India are being looked down and treated as third class citizens ‘‘These are all hollow campaigns’’, Gangmei added. Many students studying in the National capital and other big cities of the country too have welcomed the statement of Lalthanhawla.