The Central government informed the Lok Sabha that it does not maintain centralized data on hate speech, racial slurs, harassment, and discrimination against individuals from the Northeast. In response to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated that matters of “police” and “public order” are under the jurisdiction of state governments, which are tasked with the prevention, detection, registration, investigation of crimes, and prosecution of offenders. While the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles crime statistics from states and Union Territories in its annual reports, it does not track incidents of discrimination against Northeastern individuals separately.
Despite lacking centralized data, Rai pointed out existing legal measures to combat hate speech, racial remarks, and discrimination. He described actions taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, including advisories to state governments, the appointment of nodal officers for complaints, and the training of police personnel. Specific initiatives mentioned include the Special Police Unit for North East Region (SPUNER) within the Delhi Police and dedicated support systems like helplines and email services for victims. Furthermore, a Supreme Court-directed three-member monitoring committee reviews cases of racial discrimination and manages grievance redressal for Northeastern residents across the country.