Members of Parliaments cutting across party lines Friday spoke as one in support of people from the northeast with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declaring in both houses of parliament that everybody would together ensure that those from the region were safe in all parts of the country.

Despite appeals made by Centre and state governments,  exodus of Northeast people from Bangalore and other cities continue. Centre on Friday vowed to take strong action against those responsible for spreading rumours leading to the situation.

The unity and integrity of India is being threatened by “some elements”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday while stressing that the government will do its best to protect people of the region.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Singh said: “It is our obligation to protect the people of northeast. The government will discharge its duty to the best of its ability so that a feeling of insecurity among people of northeast is brought under control.”

“Such acts are most reprehensible. The unity and integrity of India is being threatened by some elements,” the prime minister said as members discussed the issue of thousands of people from the northeast fleeing places like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune after rumours that they would be attacked. Speaking on the same issue in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said all parties would together ensure that citizens from the northeast were safe in all parts of the country.

The Lok Sabha on Friday rose as one to apply balm to people from North East who are fleeing parts of the country driven by rumours of impending attacks on them and demanded strong action against those creating fear psychosis.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj stressed on the need to rise above party lines and send a clear message that people from the North East have the freedom to live, work and study wherever they wish in the country.

She said the government should create helplines to address grievances of the people from the northeast and step up patrolling across cities, particularly in areas and hostels where they reside in large numbers.

Ninong Ering (Cong) said reports of attacks on people from North East send a wrong signal and action must be taken against those spreading rumours.

Reoti Raman Singh (SP) said the creation of fear psychosis among the people from North East was a pre-planned conspiracy against the nation. He said those spreading rumours should be arrested under the National Security Act.

Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) said: “Today also we should speak as one and set an example while dealing with this sensitive issue,” he said. Chauhan said the Constitutional rights of the people of northeast were being violated by denying them freedom of access to other parts of the country.

Other political parties like JD (U), TMC, DMK, CPM, NCP and BJD also spoke on the same likes.

Bulk SMS, MMS banned for 15 days
The government Friday banned bulk SMS and MMS messages for 15 days in view of the exodus of people from the northeast from cities like Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad following rumours that they would be attacked. “We will detect those who are spreading rumours.

Those responsible for the exodus from Bangalore will not go scot free,” union Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters in Delhi.

State govt. sets up control rooms
A high-level meeting of the state government Thursday decided to immediately set up police control rooms and facilitation centres to monitor and assist the situation prevailing in Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities following threats to northeast people staying in those cities triggering their exodus towards NE/Nagaland.

A communiqué released by state chief secretary Lalthara stated that meeting was attended by chief minister, cabinet ministers, parliamentary secretaries and some MLAs along with the chief secretary and other senior officers of the state government.

After thorough deliberation, chief secretary said the meeting decided that police headquarters set up a control room immediately to monitor the situation prevailing.

The control room would also coordinate all activities connected with the setting up facilitation/guidance centres at Dimapur railway station, Dimapur Airport and Guwahati railway station etc in coordination with DC Dimapur and JRC Guwahati.

These centres would keep a proper record of students and others who are returning to Nagaland on account of this present situation, and also facilitate their temporary accommodation, further journey to destination, and their return to their respective places as soon as the situation calmed down.

The higher and technical education department would also set up a control room-cum-fecilitation centre in the directorate to keep track of students who were affected by the situation.

They would keep proper records of the students who have come back and also help in planning for their return to their respective places as early as possible by liaising with other state governments concerned and heads of the education institutions concerned.

The resident commissioner, New Delhi and joint resident commissioner, Guwahati would also set up facilitation centre at Delhi and Guwahati respectively and keep on reporting the movement of students and others to the state government on a daily basis.

The Naga student unions and Naga Christian fellowships in the cities affected by the situation maybe contacted by the control room/facilitation centres and their assistance sought in restoring normalcy.

State chief Secretary Lalthara who is also the state Cabinet Secretary when contacted confirmed to Nagaland Post that the state cabinet in its special sitting today had decided to send out two special goodwill mission teams- one to Bangalore which will be led by Power Minister Doshehe Y Sema and accompanied by IGP R.P. Kikon and the other to Pune which will be led by Agriculture minister Dr. Chumben Murry including parliamentary secretary for Law and Justice Yitachu and DIGP (Modernization) Wabang Jamir.

The team would liaison with the concerned state governments, educational institutions, students’ unions and NCFs and render all possible assistance in the matter.

When asked about the Thursday night’s furor outside PWD power office, Dimapur, Lalthara said that there was nothing concrete was decided at Friday’s cabinet meeting as the concerned department had already clarified the matter in the local media.

On the ongoing agitation by the NCSU over their demand for release of their long pending dues, the chief secretary said that the matter had not come up in the agenda during the cabinet meeting today.

NSUB asks students, parents not to panic 
Naga Students’ union, Bangalore (NSUB) Friday said Karnataka chief minister, home minister and DGP have assured to protect and safeguard the interest of northeast people.

In a press release, NSUB urged NE people staying in Bangalore not to panic and particularly the parents back home. NSUB also provided contact numbers (08050756630/09902614520) of its vice president and general secretary for any assistance.

Nagaland police control room: DGP office has released numbers of police control room Kohima (0370-100/2244279) and police control room Dimapur for providing required details and guidance to people returning from those cities.

State BJP: BJP has also setup its help line centre under NE India Sampark Cell: info@bjpnortheastcell.org, national convenor, Sunil Deodhar– 0931329215, BJP state president, M Chuba- 9436006681, Natl. council member – Vihoshe James - 09436267615.