Indian PM moves to cool panic
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured migrants from the northeast of the country that they were safe as thousands continued to flee Mumbai, Bangalore and other cities yesterday, fearing a backlash from violence against Muslims in Assam.
"What is at stake is the unity and integrity of our country. What is at stake is communal harmony," he told the upper house of parliament in a speech condemning the threats.
He added: "If there are miscreants, if there are people who are fanning these rumours, they should be brought to book."
The exodus has been sparked by threats spread via mobile phones and the Internet that Assamese people would be attacked by Muslims in reprisal for recent ethnic violence in Assam.
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