Title - BJP to protect Notheast people: Sushma

With a rumour that people from Northeast region in Karnataka could be attacked sparking an exodus, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj on Thursday assured that the party will take every possible step to protect them."We would like to assure our brothers and sisters from North East that every single member of the BJP and ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) is there to protect you. We request you not to leave your state out of panic or fear," Swaraj tweeted."Pl do not leave your state out of panic or fear," she said.The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said she had given a notice in the Parliament to discuss the issue."I gave a notice in Lok Sabha for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the attacks on our people from North East particularly the students. This could not be taken up because the House was adjourned due to sad demise of Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh," Swaraj said.She said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should have spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan on the attacks."The news reports suggest that attacks have taken place in Pune and Hyderabad. Prime Minister spoke to Chief Minister Karnataka. He should have spoken to Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra as well," she posted on Twitter.Swaraj said: "Chief Minister Karnataka (Jagdish Shettar) had taken all precautionary steps to prevent such incidents. Home Minister (R Ashoka) went to the Railway Station and addressed from the Public address systems requesting people from North East not to leave and the State Government will ensure their safety and well being.

"We hope Andhra and Maharashtra will also ensure the protection of people from North East (NE)."

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government and the Centre have said that all people and students from the Northeast region are safe in the state.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said in New Delhi on Thursday that he spoke to the Karnataka government and was assured that there was no incident of attack on Northeast people.

"We are taking all steps and if anyone spreads rumour there would be strong action taken," he said.

According to reports, the Prime Minister and Shinde also called Shettar and asked him to ensure the safety of the Northeast students in the state after the Assam violence between the tribal Bodos and Muslim settlers sparked fears of a backlash on NE people spread across the nation.

In the special trains that left for Assam on Aug 15 from Bangalore there was a mad rush of NE students.

However, Karnataka Home Minister R Ashoka urged the NE students to not leave and assured them of all safety. He himself visited the railway station and urged the NE passengers to not leave just because of rumors of possible attacks.

Bangalore, which is a hub of IT companies and academic institutions, is a place full of NE students and youngsters.

Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary R K Singh also dispelled the rumors of attack on NE people.

"They were just rumours. Some people are spreading rumours. There has been no incident," said Singh.

At least 77 people were killed in the Assam violence since July and countless were rendered homeless and sheltered in relief camps.