Arun Jaitley touches chord with NE
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, September 20 2011:
Emphatising with the issues facing the people of the North East region, leader of the Opposition and senior functionary of the BJP, Arun Jaitley today said that as a Nationalist party, the BJP strongly feels for the region and added with good measure that grievances are not without reasons.
Speaking at a lecture on 'Current Issues of North East' organized by Bharatiya Janata Party's North East Sampark cell, Jaitley today said that the North East India is an area of concern and added that as a Nationalist party the BJP strongly feels for the region.
The BJP leader said that grievances are not without reasons.
Talking about the hardships and problems of the people of North East, Jaitley noted that one of the main issues facing the region is physical and psychological distance.
|
Citing that it was one of the impact of partition, he said "We have to travel through the chicken neck to reach the North East" and added that the fruits of industrialisation have failed to reach the region due to the new geography created by the partition.
Saying that the North East region has no access to port or railways the BJP leader said, "When the Prime Minister visited Bangladesh recently, I had expected that the issue of access could be clinched, but it did not happen" .
Explaining that there are internal dynamics, the BJP leader said, "The response to the issue of access was not encouraging, though we have good relations with Bangladesh.
This would have helped boost the North East economy" .
Speaking on the physical and psychological distance between the North East and the mainland, the BJP leader said "The Indian political establishment has to enlarge the mindspace to address the issues in the North East" .
Stating that the huge presence of students, professionals and employees from the North East region in various sectors in metro cities is an "aggressive desire" BJP leader Arun Jaitley noted that it is a welcome sign.
The leader mentioned that issues like border should be seriously taken into consideration.
"Our borders with neighbours has to be settled .
The moment we settle this, it will bring peace and stability in the North East" said Jaitley.
North East cell convener Sunil Deodhar emphasised the need for more understanding of the North East, and assured the audience that voting right for North East people in Delhi will be initiated.