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Chief Ministers of at least three northeastern States have called for exemplary action against those who racially abuse people from the region in the country beyond.
Reacting to the alleged racial discrimination and abuse of three women from his State in New Delhi’s Malviya Nagar recently, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said such behaviour was unacceptable and had no place in society.
“I had spoken with the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, immediately after learning about the incident on Monday (February 23, 2026), and sought swift and strict action. The accused are currently absconding, and I have been assured that they will be apprehended at the earliest and dealt with as per law,” he said.
“We stand firmly with our three sisters, and their safety, dignity, and justice remain our highest priority,” he added.
His Sikkim counterpart, Prem Singh Tamang, said the Malviya Nagar incident was concerning and unfortunate. “Such instances remind us of the importance of upholding dignity and mutual respect at all times. The northeast is an integral part of our nation, and every citizen deserves dignity, equality, and respect,” he said.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said discrimination against people from the northeast must stop. Apart from the New Delhi incident, he cited the “racial and sexual abuse” of a resident doctor of AIIMS Gorakhpur from Nagaland.
“Outraging a woman’s modesty is not what a civilised nation should tolerate. They are your sisters and daughters, too. I urge authorities to take stringent actions against the perpetrators,” he said.
Among other leaders from the region who condemned the abuse of three Arunachal Pradesh women by a couple were Assam Congress president and MP Gaurav Gogoi, Manipur MP Angomcha Bimal Akoijam, and Tipra Motha Party leader Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma.
“The New Delhi incident is a stark reminder that prejudice against people from the northeast continues to persist,” Mr. Gogoi said, insisting that the matter “cannot be dismissed as a routine neighbourhood dispute”.
Mr. Debbarma reminded the nation that people of Arunachal Pradesh had been guarding their State’s border with China. “It is because of the patriotism of Arunachalis that not one Chinese soldier can enter our country, yet they have to be subjected to racism and ridicule. This not only hurts but humiliates the very essence of where our country is headed. Will see that these women are given due justice,” he posted on X.
According to the Delhi police, the three women from Arunachal Pradesh had engaged an electrician on their fourth-floor flat to instal an air conditioner, but the abusive neighbours objected to it. They claimed that dust and debris from the drilling work fell on their floor below. A viral video showed a couple hurling abuses at the Arunachal Pradesh women.
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