Racist hate after Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Northeast people demand apology
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said his government and the police would pursue the case as the state had been "defamed"."We will do whatever it takes. Our government and state have been defamed (even though) none of the accused are from Meghalaya," he said, according to an NDTV report.The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO), a prominent Shillong-based civil society group, has demanded a public apology from Sonam Raghuvanshi's family. Its chairman, Roy Kupar Synrem, criticised the family for making unfounded claims against the Meghalaya government and police, saying their remarks unfairly targeted and discredited local communities.advertisement"Their statements went beyond grief and bordered on deliberate misinformation. Now that the truth is emerging, they must apologise — not just to the government and police, but to every citizen of Meghalaya who was unfairly maligned," Synrem said.Raja and Sonam were last seen checking out of their homestay on May 23. They got married on May 11.Capping 16 days of mystery, Sonam was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur on June 9 (Monday).The primary investigation revealed it to be an alleged case of contract killing, as the woman was having an affair with a man who was also among those arrested.RACIST REMARKS AFTER INDORE MAN'S HONEYMOON MURDERAs the case unfolded, many on social media blamed Meghalaya and the northeast for the death of Raja.The posts below are being cited to just give a sample of the hatred and racial bigotry. There are some which are far worse."NE is full of ooga booga jungalees, never visit there. Normies who fall for sweet NE propaganda end up getting f$@#*d like this. Only exception is Arunachal and Sikkim," wrote one person."That's why Northeast also faces discrimination in other parts of India. Many gangs are active in the northeast state who kill people for money," wrote another person on X, revealing how the racist mindset normalises racial discrimination.advertisementSome went to the extreme of suggesting that the people of the region should be "eliminated"."Northeast tribals are savages, only eliminating is the solution," said another person.Many others made racist remarks and went so far as to call northeastern people "savages, cannibal and human traffickers".After Sonam's arrest, as it became clear that no one from the Northeast had anything to do with the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, the people of the region are seeking an apology for the racist remarks against them.SONAM RAGHUVANSHI CASE: PEOPLE FROM NORTHEAST SEEK APOLOGY"Indore Couple Case: Just a few days back, many defamed, demeaned Northeast & Meghalaya specifically after the couple went missing. Later the husband's body was found," shared a person from Northeast on X.Others listed how the state, which is a tourist destination because of the living root bridges, the colonial charm of Shillong, and the scenic beauty of places like Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, had been defamed for being unsafe and for "tantric magic". They demanded an apology."Unsafe, Tantric Magic, Locals being dangerous, and what not? All such commentators today must apologise. This not only hampered the Northeast's image but also the tourism economy as a whole. Sonam (wife) hired three assailants to kill her husband during their honeymoon in Meghalaya's Sohra."advertisementOthers said it wasn't just Meghalaya, but other Northeast states were also villified."Not just Meghalaya, entire NE tribals were dragged in. They were calling us savages, cannibals, human traffickers and what not. Disgusting people!" shared a person on X.Some people called out knee-jerk reactions in such cases, cautioning how an entire region was at the receiving end of a hate campaign."A few days ago, many blamed the Northeast for a honeymoon tragedy in Meghalaya, calling it unsafe, even 'tantric.' Today, it turns out the wife has been arrested for her husband's murder. Let's not vilify an entire region before knowing the truth.""Everyone who blamed Meghalaya and Northeast India without knowing the truth, defamed the state, affected tourism, spread hate, owes a written apology," wrote another person.While the government is trying to bring the Northeast region closer, and tourists are travelling there in hordes to warm hospitality, some hatemongers end up defaming an entire state and region without even waiting for any evidence. This reveals that there is a change in mindset when it comes to the Northeast region of India. A very good beginning would be to incorporate more information on the region in the school syllabus.Must Watch
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India cannot control the behaviour of adversarial states—especially when the host country is itself complicit. This blatant double standard exposes their coordinated agenda and willingness to manipulate multilateral platforms for geopolitical gains. Critics must understand that India's foreign policy does not operate in a vacuum, nor is New Delhi the sole actor on the global stage directing the actions of others. On a geopolitical landscape marked by shifting alliances, asymmetric threats, and strategic deception, many external variables remain beyond India's control. What truly matters is that India continues to assert its national interests, reject duplicity, and hold accountable those who attempt to whitewash terrorism under the pretext of regional cooperation. China's Hollow Rhetoric vs Hostile Actions China continues to peddle diplomatic slogans like the 'shared Asian Century", the 'Dragon-Elephant Dance", and the Russia-India-China (RIC) framework. 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The SCO's Shifting Power Dynamics The very raison d'être of the SCO—counterterrorism—has come under serious question. Despite housing a dedicated anti-terrorism mechanism known as the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), the SCO today is dominated by China and Pakistan, both of whom routinely block any attempt to acknowledge or act against terror groups targeting India. This contradiction has undermined the credibility of the organisation. As External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently pointed out, 'India wanted a reference to terrorism in the outcome document of the defence ministers' meeting, but it was not acceptable to one country". He further stated, 'If you can't get everybody to agree on something as basic as terrorism, then it calls into question what the SCO stands for." India joined the SCO in 2017, largely at the invitation of Russia, which at the time aimed to balance China's growing dominance within the organisation. However, since the Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has become increasingly dependent on Beijing, and its ability to counterbalance China within the SCO has significantly diminished. As a result, China and Pakistan have consolidated their influence, often sidelining India's interests. Nevertheless, India continues to actively engage bilaterally with Central Asian countries and does not rely solely on the SCO framework. The organisation remains one of several platforms for regional diplomacy, and India views it as part of a broader and diversified engagement strategy with Eurasia. Conclusion India must stop viewing the China-Pakistan axis through fragmented lenses. These two countries are acting in coordination to constrain India's rise and dilute its strategic autonomy. New Delhi must adopt an integrated strategic doctrine to confront this dual threat. China's diplomatic overtures—be it talk of shared prosperity, Asian solidarity, or multilateral dialogue—must be scrutinised against its actions. India must forcefully and clearly convey that Beijing's consistent use of Pakistan to pursue its anti-India agenda is unacceptable. China's protection of destabilising non-state actors, defence proliferation, and ISR integration with Pakistan directly undermine India's security and sovereignty. top videos View all The road ahead requires strategic clarity, national unity, and a willingness to call out hypocrisy on the global stage. As India's stature continues to grow, its neighbourhood will become increasingly challenging—particularly with hostile nexuses like that of China and Pakistan working in tandem. It is time India acknowledged this reality and acted accordingly. Imran Khurshid is Associate Research Fellow, ICPS, New Delhi, and Adjunct Research Fellow, Peninsula Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : China defence pakistan SCO Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 06, 2025, 01:40 IST News opinion Opinion | SCO Or 'Strategic Complicity Organisation'? India's Fight Against Double Standards
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