Nagaland Chief Minister and Minister condemn attack on two Naga youths in Gujarat

Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Tourism and Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along have condemned the recent attack on two Naga youths in Gujarat. The two youngsters were assaulted by a group of around 10 people who were angry at them for selling non-vegetarian and northeastern cuisine. The attack took place in the Chanakyapuri area of Ahmedabad on Sunday evening. According to reports, the attackers barged into the restaurant One Stop NorthEast and thrashed the two youths with baseball bats. One of the customers who tried to intervene was also attacked. The FIR lodged by the Naga youths with Sola police station stated that the attackers kept saying how the youths could sell non-vegetarian food items and northeastern cuisine in a place dominated by Hindus. The incident has been widely condemned, and the Chief Minister and Tourism and Higher Education Minister of Nagaland have expressed their grief over the matter. The Nagaland CM tweeted that the assault was disturbing, and that people should respect each other’s cultural identity and food choices. Along, who is the President of the BJP’s Nagaland unit, tweeted that it was disheartening to see people being targeted and discriminated against for their cultural identity and food choices. The assault has drawn attention to the need for tolerance and cultural sensitivity, particularly towards northeastern cuisine.