Calling anyone 'Chinki', 'Chinese' or making any other derogatory remark relating to race, culture or physical appearance will land you in jail for up to five years, according to a proposal which the home ministry is considering.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that his ministry is considering the proposal made by a high-level committee that looked into the attacks on people from North East in Delhi and some other parts of the country.
A bill may be brought for amending the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2014 for safety and security of the people of the Northeast in Delhi and others parts of the country, he said.
"We are examining the proposal and may add two provisions in the Indian Penal Code by amending the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2014," he said at a press conference.
The Bezbaruah committee, in its report, has noted that there was the "most common demand" from people from North Eastern region was to make words like 'Momos', 'Chinkis', Chinese', 'Chichi Chu Chu' or any other derogatory remarks relating to race, culture, identity or physical appearances to be made punisable."
It has recommended a provision in Section 153 of IPC to provide for imprisonment up to five years with a fine to "whoever, by words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise attempts or promote to attempt on the ground of race or place of origin or such other grounds relating to racial features or to racial behaviour and culture or to racial customs or participates in such activity intending to use criminal force or violence..."
The provision for imprisonment will be there even if any person is "likely to cause fear or alarm or a feeling of insecurity amongst the members of that racial groups".
The home ministry also announced that it was working to implement the recommendations of the Bezbaruah Committee, which was constituted to look into the concerns of people from the north-east.
"We constituted a committee to look into concerns of people from North east and see what measures and remedies can be done by government. The Bezbaruah Committee's recommendations include, some immediate and some long term measures," Singh said.
As per the committee's recommendations, Delhi police will appoint 20 police personnel from each north-east state and police exchange programs will also be initiated.
"The ministry has studied the recommendations of the Bezbaruah Committee. As per its recommendations, a Delhi State Legal Service Authority has been constituted to provide legal assistance. Delhi police will appoint 20 police personnel from each north eastern state and police exchange programs will also be initiated," he added.
He said the people from the north east will also get compensation and financial assistance under the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011.
The Bezbaruah Committee was formed in the aftermath of the shocking killing of 19-year-old Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania in a Delhi market.
It called for a strong and determined law enforcement agency to prevent such incidents and an adequate support system for the victims of such incidents.
For people from the north-east, the committee recommended education and sensitization before arrival in metros about ways of living and adjusting to the culture in which they have to live and work
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