New Delhi : Racism comes in many guises. A Manipuri woman has alleged that she was asked at the international airport whether she is “really an Indian” and if she can list all the states in the Union. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
Monika Khangembam was on her way to Seoul for a conference when she ran into the racist immigration counter. Later, she dwelt on the incident in a Facebook post: “The bloody racist immigration desk is at it again! Looks at my passport and says, ‘Indian toh nahi lagti ho (You don’t look an Indian)’.
I get that all the time, so don’t react much to it but then he goes on, ‘Pakka Indian ho? (Are you really an Indian?’)”
The officer didn’t stop even when Khangembam said she was late for her flight and asked him to let her pass. “What really got me was when he said, ‘See… You yourself need to know your Indianess. How many states are there in India?’ The lady at the next counter was giggling. I told him I am really running late. He went on: Nahi nahi, bolo bolo. And then he continues: Kaha se ho. I said Manipur and he smirks and says, then ‘tell me how many states Manipur shares borders with. Name them’.”
After learning about the matter, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed regret over the incident and said she would take up the issue with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
