This refers to the reports, “ >Two Naga youth attacked in Gurgaon ” and “ >Attack on Manipuri student: Rajnath talks to Siddaramaiah ” (both Oct. 17). The incidents of a Manipuri student and his friends being attacked in Bangalore for not knowing Kannada, and of two northeastern students being attacked by over a dozen people at Sikanderpur village, deserve the severest form of condemnation. We in India vehemently talk about apartheid in other countries and denounce it in unequivocal terms but look the other way when it comes to hate crimes being perpetrated here. Attacking the non-local populace is simply unacceptable in a plural and civilised society.
H.P. Murali,
Bangalore
It is shocking to learn of the way in which the people of our own country are treated in Karnataka just because they are non-locals. If this trend continues, there is a grave danger of India getting fragmented. When will this kind of hatred and racial discrimination end? The government must take strong steps to quell such evil symptoms.
I am surprised that the Government of Karnataka has not taken any viable steps or action to condemn the atrocity. Even now, it is not too late to tender an apology to those who have been affected. Language has become a dividing issue between different people. It is a person’s choice to choose the language of his liking. We have the experience of languages being thrust upon us even in education. Let children study in whatever language they are comfortable with. Even the Chinese are now learning English. So, why should we isolate ourselves?
Habibullah Badsha,
Chennai
