India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The parliament on Friday witnessed uproarious scenes on the issue of suicide by the northeastern student, Dana Silva Sangma. Sangma, 23, was a postgraduate management student at the Amity University located in Manesar near Gurgaon. She was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her hostel room on April 24. According to college authorities, Sangma was caught using a cell phone during an examination, due to which she was debarred from the examination. Sangma's friends allege that she was insulted and verbally abused by the invigilator, in the presence of other students. Unable to bear the humiliation, she hung herself in her hostel room. Senior Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley expressed his concern for safety and security of students from the northeast. "We need to assure all students and other citizens who have come from northeast either in search of education or in search of jobs in this part of the country, that not only is there safety and security going to be maintained, there is a lot we have to learn from them," said Jaitley. While addressing the house, Jaitley raised the issue of slow developmental process in the northeastern states. "Despite efforts of various governments, northeast has not grown in the same manner in which the rest of the country has. Northeast also has a genuine complaint that several central schemes and projects are endeavoured to assist them in various things have not really lived upto the mark," added Jaitley. Home Minister P Chidambaram said that it is the right of the every northeast student to travel in any part of the country and seek education. "It is clear that students and others from that part of the country are moving out to take advantage of the vast opportunities which are available in other parts of the country. It is there right to do so,” Chidambaram said. The Home Minister further expressed concern over the death of northeastern student Richard Loitam in Bengaluru and alleged racial profiling against Tibetans. “The recent deaths of Dana Silva Sangma and Richard Loitam and the allegations of racial profiling against Tibetans during the recent BRICS summit have caused disquiet and agitation among the northeastern community,” Chidambaram observed. In order to tackle this problem the central government has formed a 'Connect Cell' to be headed by a joint secretary level officer, Chidambaram informed. Besides, an interactive website for the northeastern people has been developed. BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay raised questions over the intentions of the government as he informed the house that it was the same cell that directed a dress code to the northeast students. "I would like to ask to the honourable minister that the cell that he has formed had directed the northeastern students to wear certain kind of clothes. They made this ruling by publishing a pamphlet, which was opposed by the students, and they protested in Delhi at Jantar Mantar," said Vijay.

Uproar in Parliament over suicide of north-east student