Nido Taniam’s death, causes another embarrassment to Delhi

Terming the attack on the 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh "most condemnable", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said "every possible effort" would be made to punish the guilty.

"The attack on Nido Taniam, the student from Arunachal Pradesh, is most condemnable. While the actual cause of Nido Tania's death will be known only after the autopsy report is received, the violence which preceded his demise is tragic and shameful," said the Prime Minister.

Manmohan Singh stressed that every Indian should ensure that fellow citizens from the northeast feel safe and "every part of the country welcomes them, especially New Delhi, which is the national capital" and a "diverse and vibrant city, enriched by people from all over the country who have made it their home."

"People from other parts of the country like the northeast are as much a part of the city as anyone else. All citizens need to work together to ensure that our brothers and sisters from northeast feel safe and secure in Delhi," he said.

"What is at stake is human values, amity in society, and the unity and integrity of the country," he added.

Taniam, died last week after he was beaten up by shopkeepers in a south Delhi market. The victim's friends say it was a racial attack.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday demanded action against those responsible for the unfortunate death of the Arunachal Pradesh student and announced steps to stop racial discrimination against people from the northeast.

"It is a very unfortunate incident. It is not only the fight for people of northeast. It is our fight. We all have to fight it (racial discrimination)," he said.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had on Monday joined the protesters at the Jantar Mantar and assured them that the government would ensure that they get respect and justice.

Kejriwal also emphasised upon the need to revamp criminal justice system to sensitize policemen towards people.