Parliament today appealed to all those people who are returning to the North East, to come back to their place of study or work and not to be misled by rumours. Both the Houses expressed serious concern at the feeling of insecurity of the brothers and sisters of the North

Eastern states. The members also asserted that the people of the North East have a right to live in any part of the country. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha discussed the issue by suspending the question hour as soon as the houses met for the day. Speaker Mrs Meira Kumar assured the people of the North East that the country and the government are firmly with them in the hour of the need.

She said all political parties in the House in one voice called for stringent action against those who are creating confusion among the people.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde informed the House that 170 people have been arrested in Assam, 24 in Mumbai and 13 in Pune. He said the government is seized of the matter and investigations are on. Mr Shinde also said there is no need for panic as no further incidents have been reported so far.

The Rajya Sabha adopted a resolution to this effect saying that all sections of the House and all political parties are of the firm opinion that as citizens of the country, the people of North East have a right to live in any part of India. The Resolution, read out by the Chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari, said full security should be provided to them in all parts of the country. It also said the mischief mongers and anti-national elements behind the electronic campaign to create panic should be urgently investigated by the authorities.