Dr Ranjan pitches for peace, development in NE
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 17 2021: To show his appreciation to the people of the state for their support, Union minister of state for education and external affairs Dr RK Ranjan flagged off his Jan Ashirvad Yatra (gratitude march) from Mao Gate on Tuesday.

The union minister was accompanied by Nagaland education minister and leaders of BJP Nagaland Pradesh up to Mao Gate where he was received by BJP Manipur Pradesh A Sharda, outer Manipur MP Dr Lorho Pfoze, agriculture minister O Lukhoi, BJYM leaders and party members amid security cover by Mao police.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ranjan thanked the people of the state for their support and said that he will work for the welfare of the people.

He hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility and for upholding women empowerment by appointing A Sharda as the party's state president.

Appointing a woman leader strikes balance in the society and helps in enhancing development activities, he said.

Dr Ranjan also recalled the love and affection he received from the people of Mao when he first visited there in 1974-75, and then hailed former minister Lorho for his contribution.

While recounting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off his election campaign as the Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP in 2014 from Manipur, Dr Ranjan said right from the beginning, the PM had the vision to bring development in the northeast region.

Upholding his commitment, five ministers from the northeast region have been inducted in his ministry recently and he was given the charge of union MoS for external affairs keeping in mind of the international relationship between the South East Asian countries.

Stating that education is a very crucial tool to bring about a new India, he said ministers in the education ministry were appointed from non-Hindi belt and the reason behind it is the understanding of BJP about the importance of regional language and facilities that these non-Hindi speaking states need to boost education sector.

He is seeking blessings of the public so that he could do his duty as a union minister and fulfil the aspirations of every citizen of the country, Dr Ranjan said.

He further said that he chose Mao to flag off his rally keeping in mind the trust deficit between Manipur and Nagaland, and he strongly believes that any issues could be resolved peacefully.

He landed in Dimapur and met ministers and party leaders of Nagaland, and he feels happy that they accompanied him up to Mao Gate, said Dr Ranjan.

Regarding the NDA government's policy towards the northeast region, he said that the region remained land locked during the Congress rule and the NDA government converted Look East Policy into Act East Policy with the objective of carrying out land link activities with the neighbouring countries.

PM Modi is emphasising on northeast to explore the untapped potentials it has in order to boost trade & commerce, tourism and regional connectivity in the South East Asian countries.

There is a platform under external affairs ministry called North East Dialogue.

A brainstorming session for residential commissioners of northeast states in Delhi will be convened soon in order to boost economic activities between the NE region and neighbouring countries by identifying skills and resources of the region.

North East region could become an energetic and special hub for international relationship among the South East Asian countries, he added.

Representatives of Mao Council, Mao Students' Union, Mao Naga Women's Welfare Association and several other CSOs presented gifts to the union MoS at the event.

A grand reception in honour of Dr RK Ranjan was also organised by BJP, Senapati district at ADC, Conference Hall, Senapati which was attended by BJP state president Sharda, minister O Lukhoi, BJP general secretary (org) Abhay Kumar Giri, BJP vice president (Manipur Pradesh) Yuh Jonathan Tao, vice-president Meena Banta, general secretary L Deven, ADC Senapati caretaker chairman A Kapani and Senapati district BJP president Thaikho Peter.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr RK Ranjan expressed happiness over his induction in the Council of Ministers of PM Narendra Modi-led Government and attributed it due to the support of the people of the state.

The union minister also sought blessings from all to let him perform his duties truthfully and in the interest of all for the development of all.

Among others, Dr Ranjan said he recently launched new education policy keeping in mind the educationally backward north east region and high IQ among its people.

Earlier, in Nagaland's capital Kohima, Dr Ranjan said that the predecessor government at the Centre had kept the Naga negotiations lingering but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is eager to resolve the vexed Naga political issue (NPI) and initiated the Framework Agreement.

Dr Ranjan was on a maiden visit to Nagaland as part of the 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' initiated by the prime minister for the newly inducted union ministers.

"Prime Minister Modi is eager to resolve the Naga issue.

After taking oath as the PM (in 2014), he targeted an early solution of the Naga issue and initiated the signing of the Framework Agreement (in 2015 with the NSCN-IM)," he said.

The prime minister is eager to conclude the agreement with a positive result, the union minister said and hoped that the Framework Agreement will bring in overall peace in the region and particularly to Nagaland.

Dr Ranjan, who met different sections of people and Naga organisations on Monday in Dimapur and Kohima districts, said that all of them want an early solution to the Naga political issue.

"That is their view and aspiration and I will convey the message to the higher authorities in Delhi," he said.

Dr Ranjan termed the influx of illegal immigrants, especially from Bangladesh, to the north east region as a "very critical issue" ever since the time of Independence and partition of the country.

The influx of illegal immigrants is taking place because the indigenous people of the region are not alert nor cares about it despite its impact on the political and economic spheres of the region.

Besides, the international border in the region was porous prior to BJP coming to power at the Centre, he said.

Stating that the influx is impacting the region's social demography to a great extent, he urged the people to be vigilant to stop illegal immigration.

On the decision by political parties in the state on an all-party government in Nagaland for a solution to the Naga political issue, he said that in a democratic system, the opposition plays the role of a watchdog.

"It is good if all (parties) are together to usher in development in a speedy manner, but normally the opposition should remain active so as to maintain checks and balances and also serve the interest of the people",he said.

Describing the 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' initiated by the prime minister as a familiarisation drive for the newly inducted union ministers, he said the Modi government is for good governance.

The prime minister has asked the union ministers to go to the states to meet the people and seek their blessings as well as their opinion in the process of development.

The Centre, he said, will activate the Act East policy after the COVID-19 pandemic and if the people of the region are not alert and well equipped they will not be able to directly benefit from the policy.

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