Centre not to tolerate discrimination: Kiren Rijiju
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 13 2015: Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that the government of India will not tolerate "any discrimination based on race, caste or religion." He was speaking at the inaugural day of 'Maati Ke Rang' 2015, a national cultural festival being held at the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) complex in Dimapur from January 13-17, 2015 .

During his speech, the Union Minister maintained that a country is great only when every community is respected.

According to a release, Rijiju said: "If we see that the North East does not find a place or respect outside the region, then India cannot progress." He affirmed that "we will not tolerate any discrimination based on race, caste or religion" .

Referring to the Bezbaruah Committee Report, Rijiju reiterated that the Government of India has adopted a policy to ensure that no one from the Northeast is subject to discrimination.

From Class 1 to Class 10, there should be education parted highlighting the people and culture of the North East, he said.

"To the youth, I say this: never see yourself as week.

If we feel week, we will never get our due.

The North East has unimaginable potential�we are blessed with mineral resources, water, forest resources and talented people�the vibrancy of the North East is yet to emerge.

I can see from our confident youth that our time has come," encouraged the young minister.

Though the North East may share only 1% of its boundary with mainland India, and "we may be far away from Delhi" but "we are not any less for Delhi," said Rijiju.

The 'Act East Policy' policy of the Narendra Modi led government is meant to convert the Northeast into a commercial and economic hub, he said.

"Let us use our location to our advantage�looking from the East, India begins from the North East.

Delhi should be guided by us if we are able to tell our stories," he stated.

The North East youth is competing at many levels and it will not lag behind, in the socio-economic-political spheres.

"I am responsible for the Northeast in the Government of India and it is my responsibility to see that every step is taken to make this possible" .

He informed that a decision has been taken under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that a union minister will visit the Northeast every 15 days - with the minister, officials will have to come, and people will follow.

This will challenge the reality that the North East is not understood in Delhi and help bridge the gap.

Only the people of North East need not go towards Delhi, they should also have to come here.

Rijiju mentioned that the Northeast region has to develop and reach where it deserves but it will never be successful if we cannot secure peace; if we cannot believe in peace.

"We are committed to deal with these issues securely�without peace, the dreams of young people cannot be realized," the Union Minister said.

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