Dimapur, January 2 (MExN): The Nagaland units of the Indian National Congress and the Janata Dal (United) have condemned the death of Anjel Chakma, a young student from Tripura in Dehradun, terming it a tragic outcome of deep-rooted racism and a failure of the state to protect citizens from the North East.
In a press release, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) expressed “profound grief and unequivocal condemnation” over the incident. The party stated that the tragedy “once again exposes the deep-rooted and persistent racism faced by people from the North Eastern region within our own country.”
The NPCC criticised the reported statement of a Dehradun DSP official, who allegedly dismissed racist slurs as a “remark in jest.” The party termed this stance “deeply insensitive, irresponsible, and unacceptable,” arguing that it trivialises discrimination and reinforces the “dangerous perception that people from the North East are somehow less Indian.”
Citing Anjel Chakma's final words, “I am not Chinese… I am Indian”, the NPCC called them a “searing indictment of our collective failure.” It posed a pointed question: “Are citizens from the North East still forced to prove their Indianness in their own country?”
The Congress unit demanded accountability, sensitivity training for law enforcement, and strong action against all forms of racial discrimination. “India’s unity cannot be selective; dignity and equality must be guaranteed to every citizen, in every corner of the nation,” it stated.
“Justice for Anjel Chakma... Respect, dignity, and equality for the people of the North East,” it concluded.
In a separate statement, Janata Dal (United), Nagaland, condemned the “brutal and senseless killing” of the 24-year-old student, describing it as a “racial murder” that has “deeply shocked the conscience of the nation.”
The JDU (N) expressed “deepest condolences” to the family and, citing the “gravity and brutality of this crime,” unequivocally demanded the “strictest punishment, including capital punishment, for the perpetrators.” The party argued that “such an inhuman act deserves exemplary punishment to ensure justice and to serve as a strong deterrent.”
The party’s demands includes fast-track and transparent investigation; Immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved; Time-bound delivery of justice, and “concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of students, especially those from the Northeast, across the country.”
JDU (N) called upon Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to “act decisively and ensure justice is delivered without delay.”
Expanding its critique, the JDU statement also expressed “grave concern over the recent attacks on pastors and the vandalization of churches in various parts of India.” It described these acts as a “direct assault on the constitutional values of secularism, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence.”
“Targeting individuals and places of worship based on faith is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” the party stated, warning that such actions “undermine national unity and the rule of law.”
Both parties emphasised India's diversity as its strength and called for collective action against violence, hatred, and intolerance to build a peaceful and inclusive nation.
