Racial Discrimination; Response from Manipur Govt

Shinglai Thothuingam *

Protest against Racism at Saket Area, Delhi for stabbed 22 Years Old Manipuri boy on Feb 11 2014 :: Pix - MSAD

The appointment of 11 panels of lawyer by the Government of Manipur, Secretariat law and Legislative Affairs Department on 16th June 2015, to fight cases for victims of racial discrimination against the people of Manipur living in Delhi is apt and timely.

The positive moved from Manipur state government is a benchmark worth emulating by neighbouring Northeastern states of India. No other state of India has responded like the Manipur state government did against racial discrimination to its citizens in New Delhi.

Till now, victims of racial discrimination were left to bear all the costs of lawyer’s fees and others. The initiative taken by state government will ensure justice for racially discriminated citizens. It is a huge relief for people like us, residing in Delhi.

However, it is disappointing because the appointed panels of lawyer failed to represent ethnic diversity and inclusiveness of the state dwellers in Delhi. Out of the 11 advocate panels -

Ms. N. Kalyani, Mr. Lenin Hijam, Nidhiram Sharma, Mr. A Rohan, Mr. Potsangbam Boyboy, Mr. Maibam Nabaghanshyam, David Ahongsangbam, Mr. Gaichangpaou Gangmei, Mr. Ramesh Pukhrambam, Mr Premjit, Mr. Henry Ahanthem, there is only one female and one tribal in the panel.

If we look at the most sensitive cases (in terms of media coverage and people’s support) of Manipur people in Delhi since 2013 onward, we have
Late Miss Reingamphy Awungshi (on 29th May 2013, she was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her rented accommodation, House no. 424/B ,Ground Floor, Chirag Delhi, New Delhi, case is going on in Delhi High Court)
Late Mr. Wilungbou Chawang (6th July 2014, the body of 28-year-old man from Manipur was found in a drainage of Chirag Delhi)
Late Mr. Akha Salouni (On 21st July 2014, he was brutally assaulted and murdered by 5 thugs in South Delhi’s Kotla Mubarakpur, case is going on in Delhi high court)
Late Mr. Kashung Zingran Kengoo (on 21st November 2014, a PhD scholar was found brutally murdered in his rented room at Kotla Mubarakpur)
Mr. Brilliant Horam (On 1st June 2015, he was allegedly racially abused and beaten up in the Sant Nagar area of Burari police station)

By their names, we can comprehensively identify that the victims are from tribal districts of Manipur, from which only one lawyer has been included in the panel of 11 advocates. This raises series of question, on how the appointment was conducted… based on what criteria…who conducted the appointment?

It is not necessary that every tribes of Manipur should be represented in the panel of lawyers but 10/11 names in the list are non Tribal. On this count, it is pertinent and legitimate query as to why no Kuki, Tangkhul and Poumai lawyers who are residing in Delhi and NCR failed to be appointed in the panel. If we ranked the communities of Manipur people residing in Delhi in population size, than, Meiteis will be the first, followed by Tangkhuls, Kuki, Zeliangrong, Poumai, Zoumi, Mao and so forth.

The un-proportionate representation of tribals in the panel of lawyer to fight racial discrimination in Delhi is another form of discrimination. It could have been avoided with proper consultation with student Unions and officials in Delhi. It is not necessarily concluded that the appointed lawyers will be biased in rendering their services to tribal victims, but to minimize every possible problems it would have been logical if more tribal lawyers were to have been included in the panel.

However, the positive steps taken by the state Manipur is laudable and worth appreciation from the centre, who time and again have failed to initiate an anti racial law in this country inspite of continued efforts by Northeast people in Delhi. In the years to come, state government and centre should be readied with such positive moves for other metro cities like Mumbai and Banglore where population of Northeast people are increasing every year.

The action taken by the Indian government, in the form of Special Police cell for Northeast people in Delhi, constitution of Bezbarauh committee and other positives outcomes owes credit to student bodies in Delhi, activist, officers and individual coupled with continued support from state government. The step taken by Manipur state government will go a long way in fighting justice for victims of racial and other forms of discrimination faced by people in Delhi.