India

Rahul Gandhi Calls Manipuri Musician's Death a Tragedy Rooted in Regional Discrimination

By Snehil Sinha

Friends, family, fellow musicians and political leaders gathered in Delhi on Thursday to pay tribute to Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, remembering him as a quiet, gifted guitarist who let his music speak for him. Singh, 54, had worked as a private music teacher in the national capital for 17 years before he was severely injured in an alleged racial assault by a group of men near his home in Delhi's Kilokari village on Sunday night. He later died from his injuries. His death sparked safety concerns among the northeastern community in Delhi and renewed debate over discrimination faced by people from the region in the capital. Speaking at the gathering, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said Singh's death was tragic not only because a life was lost but because he was allegedly targeted due to his regional background. "It's a tragedy that a young man has been murdered. It's also a tragedy that he was attacked because of where he was from. It's a tragedy for the people of Manipur," Gandhi said. He also spoke of the personal loss suffered by Singh's family, noting that his son would never see his father again and his parents would never see their son. Gandhi urged people not to respond with anger or hatred, but instead to express themselves, uphold their values and showcase their talent. Former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh also spoke at the event, recalling Vikram Singh's musical heritage. He said Singh's mother, Chongtham Kamala, was a well-known performer with All India Radio in Imphal and had a profound influence on her son's musical journey. Ibobi Singh added that people from India's northeastern states continue to face discrimination in major cities across the country.