Narayanasamy terms rumors about attacks on NE people 'unwarranted'

Chennai, Aug 18 (ANI): Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy on Saturday termed the rumors about attacks on people from the northeastern states to be totally unwarranted and fabricated.

Narayanasamy said people from the northeastern states of the country are being given due protection.

"Protection is being given by the state governments. The rumors are being spread by some miscreants, anti-social elements that there is no protection to the people of northeastern region in southern states of India. It is totally unwarranted, it is totally false and fabricated to create panic among the people," said Narayanasamy.

Narayanasamy further said Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde have also decried all rumors, and asked the people from the northeastern states to reside in any part of the country they wish.

"Therefore, the honourable Prime Minister said yesterday in the Parliament and also the Home Minister made an appeal to the people that they have got every right to reside in any part of the country and they will be given protection by the state governments," said Narayanasamy.

"Prime Minister spoke to the Chief Minister of Karnataka and also the Prime Minister made an appeal to the people, who are fleeing from Karnataka and other places," he added.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had earlier on Friday reassured the people from the northeastern states about their security, and urged all lawmakers to come together to bring rumor mongering to an end.

Expressing concern over the entire happening of events, Dr. Singh said those spreading rumours about attacks on northeastern people will be brought to book at the earliest.

"We have to create an atmosphere to bring rumour mongering to an end. If anyone spreads rumours, they should be brought to book, I am in touch with the state leaders personally on that. Our children from the Northeast should feel secure, this country belongs to them as to any one of us," Dr. Singh told the Rajya Sabha.

Dr. Singh further said that he was in touch with the Chief Ministers and Home Ministers of all the states, and added that the UPA Government would do its utmost to ensure that all citizens from the northeast felt secure.

"This country belongs to them as well as us. This house stands united that we will work together to give them a feeling of security- to curb and effectively control all the elements", he said.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had earlier said all reports of a possible attack on northeastern people were only rumours.

"I would appeal to the nation not to spread such rumours. There is peace everywhere. The government has taken immediate steps. We have initiated an inquiry to find out the persons responsible behind all these rumours and will take a very strict action against the guilty," he said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered surveillance of websites and social networking sites to identify those who are misreporting facts and circulating messages to instigate violence.

The fear of being targeted on communal lines in the wake of the recent Assam riots has led to an exodus of people from Assam working in Karnataka. (ANI)