By IANS
New Delhi : The fury may have died down but sparks are still flying over a pamphlet listing out norms that should be followed by northeastern students in Delhi.
An initiative of Robin Hibu, district commissioner of West Delhi, the pamphlet has listed do's and don'ts for students from the northeastern region of India living in Delhi. And many in the community are still angry over it.
"We don't have a problem with the guidelines except that these guidelines should have been uniform for all students in Delhi. Why just point at students from the northeast?" asked Nandita Sharma, a student from Guwahati.
The guidelines urged abstinence from certain food items relished in the northeast like bamboo shoot that has a strong smell. The pamphlet said such foods give off unpleasant odours and might be a nuisance to neighbours.
The pamphlet also mentioned the kind of attire the students, especially girls, should wear. It asked them to avoid wearing skimpy clothes and to not venture out on lonely stretches of road.
It also asked students not to play loud music or have late night parties, which disturbed neighbours.
Apeli Jamiti from Nagaland said: "Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Milia Islamia university and scores of others attract a huge number of students from across the country as well as from the neighbouring countries. Why no guidelines for them?"
"Don't they have late night parties? Don't students from Delhi play loud music? This move simply makes us feel that we are different and not part of the rest of the student community living here."
At a meeting with the leaders of northeast student unions in the capital earlier this month, Hibu had pointed out that his pamphlet was not intended to hurt the community's emotions.
Hailing from the northeastern region himself, Hibu said it was just to help and guide the students of the northeast so they could have a comfortable stay in the capital.
Kumar Gaurav Dutta, president of the Assamese students union in the capital, said student leaders had a second meeting with Hibu following a dissatisfied response from many students after the first meeting.
"Some students were not happy after Hibu explained his move on publishing and distributing this pamphlet. Hence we had a second meeting with him last week. Things now seem to have cooled down although there are still some who are grumbling and have put up posters against this move in some places," said Bikash Dole, one Assamese student leader.