New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Congress MP and Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing concern over repeated incidents of racial harassment and attacks on women and people from the Northeast in Delhi.
Gogoi urged immediate steps to strengthen institutional mechanisms for their safety.
In his letter, Gogoi referred to the recent incident at Nehru Place in the national capital, where two women from Assam and Bihar were allegedly molested, assaulted, and racially abused by a group of men in the early hours of May 10.
According to the letter, the women were reportedly having tea outside a hotel when a group of men allegedly began catcalling and making derogatory racial remarks, which later escalated into physical assault.
Gogoi noted that the Delhi Police had confirmed that the women were racially targeted and assaulted.
The Congress leader also cited other recent incidents involving Northeast citizens in the national capital, including the alleged racial abuse and assault of a lawyer from Manipur and her transwoman friend in South Delhi in March this year, and another case in February involving three women from Arunachal Pradesh in Malviya Nagar.
Gogoi stated that such incidents were not isolated but reflected a “deeply troubling pattern” of prejudice, profiling, and violence faced by people from the Northeast in Delhi.
He also recalled the killing of Nido Tania in 2014 and the death of Tripura student Anjel Chakma following an assault in 2025.
While acknowledging initiatives such as SPUNER, Helpline 1093, the North East Assistance Team (NEAT), and sensitisation measures introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police, Gogoi said recurring incidents indicated serious gaps in implementation and institutional confidence.
“As the national capital, Delhi must embody the constitutional values of equality, dignity, and security for every Indian citizen, irrespective of region, ethnicity, language, or appearance. Citizens from the North Eastern states contribute immensely to the social, educational, and economic life of the city. They deserve not only protection in law, but also confidence in the institutions meant to safeguard them,” the letter said.
He urged the Union Home Minister to review the effectiveness of existing support systems, strengthen accountability in racial harassment cases, expand awareness regarding helplines and legal protections, and ensure strict and time-bound action in such incidents.
–IANS
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