Agartala, October 21: Allegations of racial harassment involving a young man from Tripura in Delhi have triggered widespread condemnation, with political leaders from the state demanding an apology and strict legal action against a social media content creator accused of making derogatory remarks.
The controversy erupted after a video allegedly featuring Amir Shaukeen, who describes himself as a content creator, circulated on social media. The video has drawn criticism for allegedly mocking a youth from Tripura by calling him “Chinese” and making a derogatory reference to the historic name of the state.
The incident has reignited concerns over racial stereotyping and discrimination against people from Northeast India, who have repeatedly raised concerns about being subjected to humiliating remarks over their physical features and ethnic identities.
However, the complete context of the video, the identity and account of the alleged victim, and the precise circumstances surrounding the incident have not been independently established. The allegations against Shaukeen also remain unverified, and his response was not available at the time of publication.
CPI(M) leader and Leader of the Opposition in Tripura, Jitendra Chaudhury, strongly condemned the alleged incident and demanded an unconditional apology from Shaukeen.
Chaudhury maintained that the alleged remarks went beyond an individual’s humiliation and hurt the sentiments and dignity of Tripura’s indigenous people, widely known as the Tiprasa community. He asserted that racial ridicule should not be dismissed as a joke or justified as entertainment.
Calling for accountability, the opposition leader urged Shaukeen to apologise sincerely to the youth concerned and the people of Tripura. He also called upon Delhi Police to take appropriate legal action against those responsible for the alleged racial harassment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Former Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma also expressed strong displeasure over the alleged remarks, particularly the reported derogatory reference to Tripura’s historic name.
In a social media statement, Debbarma questioned how such remarks could be considered anything other than an insult to the people of the state. He demanded appropriate action against Shaukeen and called upon youth organisations, including YTF, TSF and TISF, to immediately lodge police complaints.
Debbarma further urged the authorities to send a police team to arrest the accused, reflecting the growing demand among political leaders for a formal investigation and accountability.
Tipra Motha MLA Paul Dangshu also condemned the alleged conduct and urged Delhi Police to initiate immediate legal proceedings.
Dangshu stressed that racial discrimination cannot be defended in the name of humour or online content creation. He called for stronger measures to ensure the safety, dignity and equal treatment of people from Tripura and other Northeastern states.
The MLA’s intervention added to the growing demand for accountability as the video continued to draw criticism on social media.
The controversy has once again brought the issue of racial discrimination against Northeastern people into the spotlight, with political leaders insisting that ethnic identity must never become a basis for public humiliation. Whether the allegations lead to formal complaints and police action remains to be seen.
In a follow-up Facebook post, Shaukeen claimed that the controversial video was scripted and that the young man featured in it was known to him. He said the youth had earlier worked at a friend’s café in Ahmedabad, describing their interaction as a light-hearted exchange in which both were joking. He maintained that there was no intention to hurt or disrespect anyone through the video.
Expressing regret over the controversy, Shaukeen said he never intended to make offensive remarks and offered a heartfelt apology to anyone who might have been hurt by the content. “I had no intention of saying anything bad about anyone. If anyone felt bad, I apologise from the bottom of my heart. I respect everyone,” he wrote.
He also extended his apology specifically to the people of Tripura, seeking to assure them that he had no intention of offending the state’s residents. “My brothers from Tripura, I apologise to all of you with folded hands. Brotherhood is top priority. I am sorry,” Shaukeen added in his post.