NEW DELHI: Terming the attack on the 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh "most condemnable", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said "every possible effort" would be made to punish the guilty.

"The attack on Nido Tania, the student from Arunachal Pradesh, is most condemnable. While the actual cause of Nido Tania 's death will be known only after the autopsy report is received, the violence which preceded his demise is tragic and shameful," the Prime Minister said in a statement, IANS reported.

"Our government will make every possible effort to punish the guilty and to provide effective protection to students and citizens from other parts of the country especially the northeast, who visit or reside in Delhi."

Manmohan Singh stressed that every Indian should ensure that fellow citizens from the northeast feel safe and "every part of the country welcomes them, especially New Delhi, which is the national capital" and a "diverse and vibrant city, enriched by people from all over the country who have made it their home."

"People from other parts of the country like the northeast are as much a part of the city as anyone else. All citizens need to work together to ensure that our brothers and sisters from northeast feel safe and secure in Delhi," he said.

"What is at stake is human values, amity in society, and the unity and integrity of the country," he added.

The Prime Minister also met a delegation from the northeast led by minister of state for minority affairs Ninong Ering.

"It is very sad. I associate with your pain," the PM told the delegation.

Tania, died last week after he was beaten up by shopkeepers in a south Delhi market. The victim's friends say it was a racial attack.

Delhi CM joins protesters, demands action against guilty (PTI)

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday demanded action against those responsible for the unfortunate death of the Arunachal Pradesh student and announced steps to stop racial discrimination against people from the northeast.

Kejriwal, who joined hundreds of people at Jantar Mantar demanding action against guilty, said necessary action would be taken against those responsible behind the attack on the basis of the magisterial inquiry already ordered by Delhi government.

"It is a very unfortunate incident. It is not only the fight for people of northeast. It is our fight. We all have to fight it (racial discrimination)," he said.

Nido Tania, a first-year student of a private university, had died after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of people in Lajpat Nagar here.

"I saw the news on television. We ordered independent magisterial inquiry within an hour... We did not order it under any pressure. Some people wrote to me asking why we should order another inquiry when police is already probing it. "I told them Delhi Police is interested party. It is one of the accused. Delhi Police cannot conduct independent investigation. Therefore, we ordered magisterial inquiry," he told the gathering.

Delhi government had on January 31 ordered the inquiry into Nido's death. "The enquiry would be completed within 3-4 weeks. If a policeman is found involved in it, action would be taken against him," Kejriwal said.

Without taking any names, the Delhi chief minister also charged "netas" for making promises who are meeting protesters and pledging actions in the case. "All these netas who are coming here. They would say this would be done, that would be done. This will not happen. There has to be justice this time. If there is no justice in the case, then there won't be any justice in the future. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had on Monday joined the protesters at the Jantar Mantar and assured them that the government would ensure that they get respect and justice.

"I have never considered myself as chief minister. I am a common man. We need to work together. We will do, whatever we can do to fight such discrimination," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal, who was also joined by his ministerial colleague Manish Sisodia , said his government would take corrective steps to create awareness and check any discrimination against people of northeast. "There will be chapters on the history of northeast of India in curriculum for Delhi schools," he announced.

The Delhi government would form a committee for the people from the northeast. "We will notify that committee. This would be the official committee of the Delhi government. In that, you will give suggestion, we will implement these suggestions," he said.

Kejriwal also emphasised upon the need to revamp criminal justice system to sensitize policemen towards people.

Supporting the chief minister, Sisodia said school books in Delhi will have chapters on the northeast from next session. "It is not simply about facts and figures of the northeast. I will try my best so that people in Delhi are taught through these books how to respect Indians, respect people and women from northeast or from any other parts of the country.

"The Department of Education in Delhi will teach people how to respect an Indian," said the education minister.

Minister of state for ministry of development of northeastern Region Paban Singh Ghatowar, who was also present during the protest, offered all support to the protesting students. "Whether I am a minister or not, but I am with you in this fight," he said.

Many activists fighting to end discrimination against people from northeast also demanded formulation of anti-racial discrimination law in the country. "We will not rest until an anti-racial discrimination law is passed," said Binalakshmi Nepram, founder of Manipur Gun Survivors Network.

(Inputs from PTI and IANS)