Arvind Kejriwal has promised to meet Delhi's Lieutenant Governor and press for immediate police action in the case
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal joined students from the North-East protesting against the death of Nido Taniam, a 20-year-old from Arunachal Pradesh, to launch another blistering attack on the Delhi Police this evening, saying they should be treated as accused in the case.
He apologised for reaching the protest venue at Jantar Mantar only after four days, and then announced a slew of measures to meet the demands that the protesters placed before him. Among them, that the history of the North East will be introduced in school books in the capital to help sensitise people.
The protesters cheered for Mr Kejriwal. Around them placards read, "We are not outsiders."
"Nido's fight isn't a North Eastern issue...It's a national issue...we have to fight this racism together," the Chief Minister said and promised, "Whoever is guilty in this case, whether it is the police or the accused, we will have to get together to ensure they are hanged."
The students have demanded a fast-track investigation into the teen's death and action against the police for not doing enough to help him. Mr Kejriwal said a magisterial enquiry ordered by his government would finish in three to four weeks.
Mr Kejriwal's visit at the protest venue came about 24 hours after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had met the students and promised that justice will be delivered for Nido.
"What happened to Nido is totally unacceptable," Mr Gandhi had said. "There is only one India. And that India belongs to all of us. We are going to ensure you get respect in this country. Full stop."
"Rahulji has called up Shindeji in front of us and requested for the probe," PTI quoted a student as saying. Student union representatives today met Mr Shinde.
Nido was studying in Jalandhar and was vacationing in Delhi last week when he was beaten up with rods and sticks, allegedly by a group of shopkeepers who ridiculed his appearance and his dyed hair. The police say it negotiated a settlement and that Nido then went to his sister's home where he was found dead in his bed the next day.
According to the Delhi Police, six people have been booked for assaulting Nido. Three of them have been arrested and two of the other three are juveniles.