Rio asks Centre to resolve political conflicts in NE
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Kohima, November 28 2012:
Asserting the importance of the North-east in realising India's Look East policy, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said the Centre must resolve outstanding political issues and bring political stability to the region.
Resolution of political conflicts and subsequent containment of insurgency would ensure political stability and prevalence of peace and security in the region, a pre-requisite for all economic activities to take off, Rio said addressing the 5th general conference of North East Students' Organisation (NESO) here.
He said "after having weighed both positive and negative aspects, it is time for the country to realise that the north eastern region is on the verge of becoming one of the country's most important assets on all fronts," and the only way for the Centre to turn the tables in its favour was to address the issues that that have plagued the region.
The Chief Minister said the majority of the people of the region were yet to understand that they were living in an area that has the potential to become one of the most important regions in the planet in the present century.
He said the NER is located in a crucial and vital geographical location, where 99 per cent of outer boundaries of the sister states, borders foreign countries and only one per cent of outer boundary is shared with the mainland India.
With the two powers of ancient civilizations of China and India, along with Myanmar and Bangladesh bordering region, this part of the country is crucial and strategic in multiple aspects of security, trade, commerce and connectivity.
The Region is the gateway for the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region and the Indian sub-continent to each other.
The economies of India, China and the ASEAN could be centered on the sister states of the region.
He said having weighed the positives and negatives, it is time for the country to realize that the NER is one the verge of becoming one of the country's most important assets on all fronts.
On the issue of illegal migrants, Rio observed that the entire North Eastern Region is facing the threat of being overrun by illegal immigrants, which has changed the demography of the population and polluted the rich culture of the region.
He said if the culture is lost there will be no identity of any people, so it is the responsibility of every citizen to preserve their own culture, protect heritage and prevent population from being overrun and added these issues need to be constantly pursued.