Joykumar moots Manipur-Myanmar cordial ties
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, April 11 2018:
Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh today inaugurated a two days "Bharat-Myanmar Seema Chintan Baithak" at the Conference Hall of Department of Art & Culture at Palace Compound.
The conference being organised by Seemantha Chetana Mancha, Purvottar will look into issues and challenges being faced by India in maintaining a cordial relationship with Myanmar in coming days.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Joykumar said that Manipur shares a long porous border with Myanmar and there have been many contentious and wide ranging issues between the two neighbours.
He said that there has been a paradigm shift in controlling the border areas in both sides for the last many years although many issues like drug trafficking, militancy and infiltration etc are yet to be discussed and addressed.
He said that a lot of differences in terms of border management are being seen in different border areas of the country.
As the State shares a difficult terrain with Myanmar, it may not be possible to fence the border.
If we can maintain a cordial relationship with Myanmar then most of the issues can be resolved, he observed.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that border roads and better connectivity between the villages in the border areas and infrastructures like schools and hospitals should be provided.
He said that besides this, the task of border guarding to check infiltration and other illegal activities should be handed over to a dedicated border force like BSF so that a tight vigil across the border can be made.
He urged the people mainly in the border areas of the State to inculcate the sense of nationalism so that a true feeling of patriotism can be developed for a strong and united India.
Taking part in the function, Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu said that there has been no tangible effect of Border Areas Development Programme (BADP) in the North East.
He said that the Union Government is committed to resolve issues like border fencing, boundary demarcation and dispute over shifting of border pillars at the earliest Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in constant touch with Myanmar and it will be sorted out soon, he added.
He said that Moreh town has to be developed and connectivity in the border areas has also to be developed.
All India Convenor of Seemanta Chetana Mancha Gopala Krishnan also spoke on the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with Myanmar.
Delegates from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and border districts of the State are participating in the conference.