KTR condemns Angel Chakma’s killing, calls racism crime against humanity

BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned racism as a crime against humanity, reacting to the killing of Tripura MBA student Angel Chakma in Dehradun, and urged the Centre to enforce strict laws with zero tolerance for racist crimes.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday strongly condemned racism in all its forms, terming it as a grave crime against humanity that strikes at the very soul of India’s constitutional values. He was reacting to the killing of Angel Chakma, an MBA student from Tripura, who was attacked by a racist mob in Dehradun, leading to his death.

He said the incident was a stark reminder of how prejudice, power and impunity can combine with devastating consequences.

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In a statement on X, Rama Rao termed racism a crime against humanity and warned that India cannot afford to allow such poison to spread. “A nation built on unity in diversity cannot survive selective hatred,” he said. He stressing that justice must be non-negotiable and racism, in any form, must be met with zero tolerance.

He said the killing should not be dismissed as an isolated incident, but seen as a grave warning of what happens when hatred is normalised and discrimination is tolerated.

Calling for decisive action, the BRS leader said the Central government has both a moral and constitutional obligation to respond firmly. He demanded the enactment and enforcement of strict and unambiguous laws to criminalise racist speech, behaviour and incitement.

“These laws must ensure swift arrest, prosecution and punishment,” he affirmed.

Highlighting India’s constitutional promise of equality and dignity, Rama Rao said safeguarding citizens from racial hatred is not merely a law-and-order issue but a test of the Republic’s commitment to justice and human rights. “When discrimination is allowed to fester, it corrodes institutions and endangers lives,” he warned.

He urged the Union government to move beyond rhetoric and ensure firm legal safeguards, robust enforcement, and institutional accountability to prevent recurrence of such crimes. “Zero tolerance must be the standard, without exception,” he added.