They are beautiful ppl dont do this to them.
I am a proud Indian but should we go to China, asks Nido Tania's mom
Even as chorus grows in the national capital demanding justice for
Nido Tania, the 20-year-old from Arunachal Pradesh who had succumbed to his injuries after he was beaten up by a group of shopkeepers last week in Lajpat Nagar market, his native village Tamen in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh mourns the loss of a son.
Taniam's bereaved mother Marina Nido broke her silence in an interaction with India Today Group and demanded justice for her son. In an emotional outburst, Marina, who is also the chairperson of Arunachal Pradesh social welfare board, hit out at Delhi Police, blaming it for her son's untimely death. Marina says it was dereliction of duty by the cops that led to the loss of her young son's life.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi joins Justice for Nido crusade
Marina said her son, a first year sociology honours student at a private university in Jalandhar, was jolly but reserve. He barely fought with anybody and that she had never had to beat him up for anything. She said this was the only time he reacted in anger and paid with his life.
Maintaining that students from northeast have to put up with discrimination everywhere in the country, Marina said, "Even I've experienced such discrimination when I was a student and used to go out of Arunachal Pradesh. They always ask us, 'Are u from China..are u Nepali?' Every day we have to face such situation. I'm proud to be Indian. But where should we go? Should we be sent to China?"
Marina said people in the northeast have never believed in discrimination on the contrary. "In northeast, there are so many people from Delhi. We welcome them, honour them and respect them. We never discriminate."
Exclusive: Nido's last living moments
"We here in the northeast are very hardworking. We spend a lot to get them (our children) good education because there is no facility here. Delhi people don't pay for our kids' education. We spend a lot for their safety. We provide them expensive accommodations so that they stay safe. Where is that safety?" Marina rued.
Marina said it was wrong on the part of people to discriminate merely on the basis of people's looks. "They discriminate us because of our looks...It's not the youngsters' fault that they dress like this...or that they colour their hair. If that is a problem then why doesn't the government ban cosmetics and hair colours? Fashion is an individual choice," she said.
Blaming Delhi Police squarely for her son's death, Marina said, "The police should have taken my son to hospital. But they left him at the mercy of the mob even though he paid up Rs 10,000.
They have done it because of the police (support). I've lost my son because of Delhi Police."
'We watch Bollywood films, speak Hindi, yet they call us Chinese'
For an inconsolable mother, it's a battle that has just begun. She is determined to seek justice for her teenage son's murder and says she is prepared to make every sacrifice for the cause.
"My son always told me I was the best mother. Now I want to show him that I'm the best mother. I will sacrifice everything and continue the fight for justice for my young son," she said.
Marina Nido is preparing to visit Delhi soon to continue her battle right where her whole world came crashing down.
