Northeast: An issue in DU polls

Students organisation are trying hard to garner votes of northeast students in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) polls, with "ending racial discrimination" becoming an important issue in their manifestos.

In their manifestos, the Congress' student wing National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Left-wing All India Students' Association (AISA) Thursday said they would work towards ending racial discrimination against students from northeast.

The DUSU polls are scheduled for Sep 12.

"Youths from northeast leave their homes and travel so far in hope of better education, job prospect and a better life. The incident of harassment, mocking their dressing sense, eating habits, lifestyle is an everyday occurrence even in Delhi University.

"We will work to create an environment of zero tolerance towards racial discrimination in the university and the state," NSUI president Roji. M. John said at the launch of the manifesto.

Similarly, the AISA mentioned in its manifesto that it will hold regular sensitisation programmes in DU against sexual harassment and discrimination routinely faced by students from the northeast.

"For this, making committees on sexual harassment active and accountable in all colleges and demanding students' representation in them will help solve the issue," said Sunny Kumar, AISA president.

While Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) - the student wing of RSS, released a separate manifesto for the northeast students.

"We have a wing for northeast students called 'Arunodaya' and have been working for these students. We will work in providing them with hostel accommodation and bringing a sense of inclusion," Rohit Chahal, ABVP national secretary, told IANS.

An estimated 20,000 students from the northeast India are studying in the university.