Stern action needed: Meghalaya CM slams racial abuse of Northeast women in Delhi

A case was filed against a Delhi couple after three Arunachal women alleged racial abuse during a Malviya Nagar dispute; Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma sought strict legal action.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday termed the alleged racial abuse of three northeastern women in Delhi as “very unfortunate”, urging strict legal action and greater public sensitisation to curb such incidents.

Speaking to India Today TV days after the episode, Sangma said such behaviour reflects the thinking of a small section of people and should not be seen as representative of the country.

“This is truly a very unfortunate incident that has happened. It is not that the majority of people think like that. There are small groups or individuals who have such a mindset, which is very sad. Incidents like this send a very wrong signal to the rest of the nation,” he said.

#Exclusive | Meghalaya CM on racial bias

This is truly a very unfortunate incident. To be very frank, the majority of people do not think this way. From what I have observed, it is only a small group of individuals who hold such a mindset, which is deeply unfortunate:… pic.twitter.com/iwFwKxxBty

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) February 23, 2026

The Chief Minister stressed that such episodes undermine the idea of national unity. “While we are trying to position ourselves as a united nation, incidents like these spoil the entire environment. This is something we all should condemn and there has to be a lot of sensitisation about it,” he added.

Sangma also urged people from the Northeast to raise their voices against such discrimination. “People must talk about this. I tell people of the Northeast to speak up. The more we talk, we create awareness. Only then will we be able to overcome such shortcomings,” he said.

Addressing the recurring issue of people from the Northeast being stereotyped based on appearance, food or attire, Sangma said India’s diversity must be respected.

“The whole country is different. If you go from one part of the country to another, that is what makes India so special. When you go to the southern part they have different food habits, attire and culture, and the same is the case in all regions. People who have such a narrow mindset are the ones who create such differences,” he said.

#Exclusive | Meghalaya CM on racial bias

Therefore, this has to change. There must be a collective effort—people need to speak out, and those who are not from the Northeast must also raise their voices: @SangmaConrad, Meghalaya CM#SuperSix | @snehamordani pic.twitter.com/ECd1OGbb1d

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) February 23, 2026

Calling for accountability, the Meghalaya Chief Minister said action must follow the law. “A strong message must go that these kinds of incidents will not be tolerated. At the end of the day, there has to be some self-realisation in people. There has to be a change in mindset. I expect that the Delhi Police will take stern action as per law,” he said.

ARUNACHAL WOMEN FACE RACIAL ABUSE

The controversy stemmed from a recent altercation in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, where three women from Arunachal Pradesh alleged they were subjected to racial slurs, humiliation and intimidation by their neighbours after a dispute over repair work at their rented flat.

According to police, the incident occurred on February 20 around 3.30 pm when the women called an electrician to their fourth-floor apartment to install an air conditioner. During the drilling work, dust and debris reportedly fell onto the floor below, prompting objections from neighbours Harsh Singh and his wife Ruby Jain.

What began as a disagreement over falling debris soon escalated. The women alleged the couple hurled abuses and made derogatory and racist remarks targeting them and the broader northeastern community.

A purported video of the confrontation, now circulating on social media, appears to show the accused calling the women ‘momo’ and alleging they worked at massage parlours as sex workers for Rs 500. She is also heard asking whether they had opened a massage parlour at home.

A police officer was present during the altercation and is seen in the video attempting to pacify both sides. The man identified by police as Harsh Singh is also allegedly heard making derogatory remarks.

At one point, the accused woman claimed the man being referred to is the son of a “big politician”.

The Arunachal women can be seen confronting the couple in the footage, with one saying, “Everyone heard what you said about my image. You made false allegations that I drink alcohol. Go check my room if you find any bottles there”.

In another segment, the accused woman allegedly makes further offensive remarks, “Why don’t you sleep with him? Go to my bedroom. You will come to know how old is he,” she said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/arunachal-women-racial-abuse-delhi-northeast-meghalaya-cm-conrad-sangma-accused-couple-2873128-2026-02-23