Calling North-East Indians 'chinkis' or any other derogatory names could land you an imprisonment of 5 years

It’s good to see the Government taking some steps against racial discrimination. NDTV reported that calling people of the north-eastern region by “derogatory” names may soon land a person in jail for up to five years, and become a non-bailable offence. In what could be a tremendous step to put an end to a racial discrimination going on in the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Delhi High Court today that it has decided to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to strengthen the legal framework against racial discrimination.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath were told, “The Ministry of Home Affairs is in process of finalizing a comprehensive bill for insertion of new sections of 153C and 509A in Indian Penal Code (IPC) which will be introduced in Parliament after inter-ministerial consultation.”

The proposed Section 153C makes imputations and assertions prejudicial to human dignity and makes words, both spoken and written, or signs attempting to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, or indulging in activity intended to use criminal force or violence against a particular race, a non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment up to five years with fine.

Often, we come across some people who address the people from North-East India as ‘chinkis’. As of now, the proposed Section 509A is yet to make any word. Till then, gesture or act intended to insult a member of a particular race with imprisonment that may extend to three years with fine. Not only that, other facilities like legal assistance, special police initiatives, bonding power of sports and educating the people about the North East region will also be provided, said officials.Sanjay Jain, additional Solicitor General (ASG) said that the Home Ministry has accepted a recommendation of the M K Bezbaruah committee constituted in February 2014, following a spate of attacks against people from the region living in Delhi. The Centre had set up the committee after a 19-year-old Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania was killed in an alleged racial attack in Lajpat Nagar locality of South Delhi in January 2014.

We hope that the law passes soon.

The news is sourced from NDTV

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