Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton has strongly condemned the alleged racial discrimination and assault on two residents from Northeast India near the Saket District Court Complex in New Delhi on March 8.

In a press statement, Patton said he was “appalled and disturbed” by repeated instances of racial discrimination faced by people from the Northeast region in different parts of the country. “When will we learn to see each other as Indians first?” he asked.

Condemning the incident, the Deputy Chief Minister said acts of prejudice and bias against individuals from the Northeast are deeply hurtful and contradict the values of unity and inclusivity that the country stands for. He said it was disheartening to see people being judged or mistreated based on their appearance, ethnicity or place of origin.

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Patton called on citizens to promote understanding, empathy and mutual respect among different cultures and communities. He emphasized that every Indian deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness regardless of their background. “We must celebrate our diversity and recognize the strength it brings to our nation and promote inclusivity,” he added.

He further urged everyone to stand against racism and promote inclusivity in all aspects of life, stressing the need to build a society where everyone feels valued, respected and safe.

He also said that racism and violence completely unacceptable and deserves strict legal consequences.