Karnataka faced and unusual and undesirable crisis on Thursday, when at least 6,000 students from the Northeast reached the Bengaluru railway station in a state of panic. A sense of fear gripped the Northeastern community in the city after unconfirmed reports started circulating that some right-wing groups in the state had given them an ultimatum to leave the city.
By the Wendesday night, the situation had become so grave that Prime Ministere Manmohan Singh called the chief minister to ensure the safety of Northeastern students. Singh also voiced similar sentiments to the home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
On Thursday, Shettar appealed to the Northeastern community in his state to stay calm and not to pay heed to rumours doing the rounds. Assuring about 200 Northeastern students at his residence, he said, 'The police will offer full protection to you all. There is no reason to worry. Believe in our government and not in rumours.' He also held a high-level meeting of state and police officials to tackle the situation.
Intervening in the matter, the Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi requested the people from the Northeast in Karnataka to remain calm and not panic. 'There have been no attacks on people from the Northeast. They should stay where they are,' he said.
Meanwhile, the railways arranged for two special trains for Assam on Wednesday night to clear the sudden rush of passengers. Its officials said that they sold about 6,000 tickets for Northeastern destinations on Wednesday night. The South Western Railway spokesperson Suvankar Biswas said, 'We had to arrange at short notice two special trains of 20 to 22 coaches each around midnight to Guwahati in addition to the daily Bangalore-Guwahati Express and Bangalore-Howrah Express, because a whopping 6,000 unreserved tickets for the Northeast-bound trains were sold since Wednesday afternoon.'
Till the last reports, the exodus of students continued, with the railways arranging for two special trains on Thursday evening as well. This happened despite the Karnataka home minister R Ashok going to the Bangalore railway station in an effort to convince the students not to leave the city.
Some officials believe that rumours of attacks on the students started doing the rounds after a Tibetan student was stabbed by two motorcycle-borne men in Mysore on 14 August. The police are trying to locate the source of these rumours and keeping a tab on the Internet and the social media.
STAY BACK IN BENGALURU: ISLAMIC GROUPS TELL ASSAMESE ‘FRIENDS’
Muslim leaders and Islamic organisations Thursday appealed to the northeast people, especially students, to remain in Bangalore and not to believe in rumours that they would be attacked in retaliation to the recent Assam ethnic violence.
‘Don't leave Bangalore, dear Assamese friends. We love you!’ and ‘Bangalore is safe. No need to fear. Stay back’ are some of the slogans on placards carried by about 50 members of the Students Islamic Organisation of India at the city railway station.
Even as police scotched rumours of retaliatory attacks on northeast people after Ramadan as a backlash, Muslim leaders in the city warned anti-social elements against spreading rumours, circulating mischievous messages or threatening anyone, especially people from northeast.
‘We condemn all those who are indulging in rumour-mongering and causing panic among the northeast people, especially students who have been residing in Bangalore or cities across the state over the years. There is no truth in what is being falsely spread or circulated through SMS or social media. Don't believe in them and leave the city,’ a member of the Bangalore Islamic Foundation Trust said on anonymity.
Alarmed over reports that a section of the minority community was behind the rumours, Students Islamic Organisation of India member Tauseef Ahmad said that it was unfortunate that they (Muslims) were being blamed for the rumours.
‘It is for police to investigate who is behind such rumours and punish the guilty. How can anyone be accused of threatening the northeast people of revenge for some violence in Assam with which they are in no way connected,’ Ahmad said. (Agencies)
‘PEOPLE FROM NORTHEAST SAFE IN KARNATAKA’
People from the northeast were safe in Karnataka, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on Thursday while warning that those spreading rumours would be severely punished.
‘I request the nation through you, don't spread such rumours... there is peace, all steps have been taken,’ Shinde told reporters outside parliament.
‘Strict action will be taken against people who spread such rumours,’ he added. Home secretary RK Singh echoed his message.
‘There is no incident in Karnataka, this is just rumour. People need to avoid rumours... There is no incident... full stop... no incident,’ Singh said.
On Wednesday evening, Karnataka home minister R Ashok visited Bangalore Central railway station and made repeated appeals to crowds of northeast students and professionals, assuring them of safety.
Two special trains to Assam were run by South-Western Railways on Wednesday amidst escalating demands for tickets.
He said the Prime Minister and he himself have spoken to the Karnataka chief minister, requesting him to ask the people to share information on rumour mongers.
Asserting that the situation in the state was peaceful, he said extra trains have been pressed into service for Assam to help people who want to leave Karnataka.
Meanwhile Congress MPs from the northeast on Thursday met party chief Sonia Gandhi to apprise her of their concern about exodus of people of the region from Bangalore and some other parts of the country following rumours about threat to their safety.
The delegation included MPs from several north eastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Minister of State for Development of Northeastern Region Paban Singh Ghatowar was among the MPs who met Gandhi. The Congress MPs are also likely to meet PM Manmohan Singh. (Agencies)
By the Wendesday night, the situation had become so grave that Prime Ministere Manmohan Singh called the chief minister to ensure the safety of Northeastern students. Singh also voiced similar sentiments to the home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
On Thursday, Shettar appealed to the Northeastern community in his state to stay calm and not to pay heed to rumours doing the rounds. Assuring about 200 Northeastern students at his residence, he said, 'The police will offer full protection to you all. There is no reason to worry. Believe in our government and not in rumours.' He also held a high-level meeting of state and police officials to tackle the situation.
Intervening in the matter, the Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi requested the people from the Northeast in Karnataka to remain calm and not panic. 'There have been no attacks on people from the Northeast. They should stay where they are,' he said.
Meanwhile, the railways arranged for two special trains for Assam on Wednesday night to clear the sudden rush of passengers. Its officials said that they sold about 6,000 tickets for Northeastern destinations on Wednesday night. The South Western Railway spokesperson Suvankar Biswas said, 'We had to arrange at short notice two special trains of 20 to 22 coaches each around midnight to Guwahati in addition to the daily Bangalore-Guwahati Express and Bangalore-Howrah Express, because a whopping 6,000 unreserved tickets for the Northeast-bound trains were sold since Wednesday afternoon.'
Till the last reports, the exodus of students continued, with the railways arranging for two special trains on Thursday evening as well. This happened despite the Karnataka home minister R Ashok going to the Bangalore railway station in an effort to convince the students not to leave the city.
Some officials believe that rumours of attacks on the students started doing the rounds after a Tibetan student was stabbed by two motorcycle-borne men in Mysore on 14 August. The police are trying to locate the source of these rumours and keeping a tab on the Internet and the social media.
STAY BACK IN BENGALURU: ISLAMIC GROUPS TELL ASSAMESE ‘FRIENDS’
Muslim leaders and Islamic organisations Thursday appealed to the northeast people, especially students, to remain in Bangalore and not to believe in rumours that they would be attacked in retaliation to the recent Assam ethnic violence.
‘Don't leave Bangalore, dear Assamese friends. We love you!’ and ‘Bangalore is safe. No need to fear. Stay back’ are some of the slogans on placards carried by about 50 members of the Students Islamic Organisation of India at the city railway station.
Even as police scotched rumours of retaliatory attacks on northeast people after Ramadan as a backlash, Muslim leaders in the city warned anti-social elements against spreading rumours, circulating mischievous messages or threatening anyone, especially people from northeast.
‘We condemn all those who are indulging in rumour-mongering and causing panic among the northeast people, especially students who have been residing in Bangalore or cities across the state over the years. There is no truth in what is being falsely spread or circulated through SMS or social media. Don't believe in them and leave the city,’ a member of the Bangalore Islamic Foundation Trust said on anonymity.
Alarmed over reports that a section of the minority community was behind the rumours, Students Islamic Organisation of India member Tauseef Ahmad said that it was unfortunate that they (Muslims) were being blamed for the rumours.
‘It is for police to investigate who is behind such rumours and punish the guilty. How can anyone be accused of threatening the northeast people of revenge for some violence in Assam with which they are in no way connected,’ Ahmad said. (Agencies)
‘PEOPLE FROM NORTHEAST SAFE IN KARNATAKA’
People from the northeast were safe in Karnataka, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on Thursday while warning that those spreading rumours would be severely punished.
‘I request the nation through you, don't spread such rumours... there is peace, all steps have been taken,’ Shinde told reporters outside parliament.
‘Strict action will be taken against people who spread such rumours,’ he added. Home secretary RK Singh echoed his message.
‘There is no incident in Karnataka, this is just rumour. People need to avoid rumours... There is no incident... full stop... no incident,’ Singh said.
On Wednesday evening, Karnataka home minister R Ashok visited Bangalore Central railway station and made repeated appeals to crowds of northeast students and professionals, assuring them of safety.
Two special trains to Assam were run by South-Western Railways on Wednesday amidst escalating demands for tickets.
He said the Prime Minister and he himself have spoken to the Karnataka chief minister, requesting him to ask the people to share information on rumour mongers.
Asserting that the situation in the state was peaceful, he said extra trains have been pressed into service for Assam to help people who want to leave Karnataka.
Meanwhile Congress MPs from the northeast on Thursday met party chief Sonia Gandhi to apprise her of their concern about exodus of people of the region from Bangalore and some other parts of the country following rumours about threat to their safety.
The delegation included MPs from several north eastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Minister of State for Development of Northeastern Region Paban Singh Ghatowar was among the MPs who met Gandhi. The Congress MPs are also likely to meet PM Manmohan Singh. (Agencies)