Don't leave, Karnataka CM urges people from North East
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has urged the people hailing from north eastern states not to leave Karnataka and ignore rumours that have prompted thousands of workers to flee already. In an effort to assure those who had come to meet him at the CM's office, Shettar pointed out that no one from the North East has been attacked here in the last two days. "There is no need to panic. What you have heard is rumours.
You people have lived here for many years and have become one among us. Leaving state is not good news. We will provide you full protection," he said. Yesterday night, more than 6000 migrant workers boarded three North East-bound trains after SMSes warned of attacks on them supposedly in retaliation for the killing of Muslims in Assam. With the exodus continuing unabated even today morning, Shettar assured that adequate police personnel will be deployed at all areas where people from the North East live in large numbers.
"Patrolling the area will be done. This apart, security will be provided to the properties of those who have already left Bangalore. Police will be holding peace committee meeting involving all sections of the society," the CM said. Stressing that elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for Ramzan, Shettar asserted that clashes on region, caste, race grounds will not be allowed in Karnataka.
Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told the CM that steps must be taken to ensure that people from the North East feel absolutely safe in Karnataka. Besides Shettar's counterparts in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley also spoke to the CM on phone.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka who is also the state's Home minister ordered the police to inform the panic-stricken migrant workers through all possible means that they will be provided full protection.