'Northeast has potential to become big tourist hub' Says Amit Shah

SHILLONG: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving no stone unturned in promoting Northeast on the world map and bringing progress and prosperity in the region.

Addressing the 69th plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) here, Shah said, ''Whether it is natural beauty or rich cultural heritage, the region has immense potential to become a big tourism hub of our country.

''When Modiji became the Prime Minister, he said in the very beginning that the development of India lies in the development of the Northeast. The region which was neglected for decades has witnessed unprecedented peace and development under PM Modi,'' he said.

The Home Minister added that from increasing livelihoods to bringing several development projects, the NEC has played a crucial role in fuelling the economic growth of the region.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Union Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Council, received Shah at the helipad in Upper Shillong.

Except Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Governors and Chief Ministers of six other north-eastern States took part in the important plenary session of the NEC, a regional planning body. Ministers and officials of Assam and Mizoram, however, attended the meeting, where a large number of central government officials participated.

According to the NEC official, in the NEC meeting, progress of various developmental projects would be reviewed, and future plans and projects for the eight northeastern States are likely to be finalised.

A senior NEC official said that the Home Minister has asked Chief Ministers of the concerned northeastern states to resolve inter-state boundary disputes amicably through bilateral talks.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh while talking to the media after the NEC meeting said that the border fencing work along the India-Myanmar frontiers adjoining Manipur are now being undertaken.

''Most of the militant outfits in Manipur were now under cessation of operation mode,'' he said.

The NEC, which was set up in 1971, is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the northeastern region comprising Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

According to the officials, over the last 50 years, the NEC, under the Ministry of DoNER, has been instrumental in setting in motion a new economic endeavour aimed at removing the basic handicaps that stood in the way of normal development of the region and has ushered in an era of new hope in this backward area full of great potentialities.

Shah, who arrived in Guwahati then flew to Shillong by helicopter on Saturday on a two-day visit to Meghalaya and Assam. His schedule includes attending the plenary committee meeting of North Eastern Space Application Centre in Shillong and the launch of Ayushman Bharat Yojana for the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel and their families in Guwahati. Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Union Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh, who is the Vice-Chair of the Council, received the Union Home Minister at the helipad in Upper Shillong. (IANS)

SHILLONG BUREAU ADDS: Meanwhile, the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on various demands including the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the State. "We are seeking Legislation and Implementation of strong and effective laws for the all-round protection and promotion of the rights and Interests of the indigenous people of Meghalaya," CoMSO chairman Robert June Kharjarin told reporters after meeting the Union Minister.

"Four States in the north-eastern part of India have put in place laws and mechanisms to contain the unregulated entry of people into their States by implementing the 'Inner Line Permit' (ILP) system, which is an offshoot of the 'Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873'. However, our State, which have been demanding ILP for a very long time have been denied this law and mechanism by the Central Government," he said.

It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on the 19th of December, 2019 had unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Government of India to implement ILP in the State under the 'Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act -1873'. The resolution was moved by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and all members across party lines, including the MLAs of the BJP, supported it. The Assembly session for only one day was held for the sole purpose of passing the resolution as it is the aspiration of the indigenous people of State to implement ILP.

Kharjarin said that Meghalaya just like Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur is a small State where the indigenous people of the State are minority in the context of national population and thus it need special protection just like the indigenous people of the other four States.

"We are of the opinion that Meghalaya being the transit State to other North Eastern States, flexible Rules maybe framed by the State Government to implement ILP system so that persons using the State as transit purpose only will not be affected," he said.

Kharjarin added that there is a need for the Governor of Meghalaya to give his assent to the 'Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bills-2020'.

Some other NGOs are also likely to meet the Home Minister on the same issues.

The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO), an umbrella body of more than 17 organisations, has been spearheading the agitation since 2019 for the introduction of ILP in the remaining part of the State.

The Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution on December 19, 2019 requesting the central government to impose the ILP in the remaining part of the hill State. If the ILP is enforced in the entire Meghalaya, the State, like other four north-eastern States — Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, would keep itself out of the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 was in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram. On December 11, 2019 it was promulgated in Manipur, to allow for inward travel of an Indian citizen into the ILP enforced areas for a stipulated period with the written permission of the State authority.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma is likely to meet the Union Home Minister to discuss some pending issues including promulgation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the entire State and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The delegation of the MDA, in which the BJP is also a constituent, would also raise issues such as the long-pending boundary dispute with Assam.

On the other hand, the 69th plenary session of the NEC kickstarted in Shillong on Saturday on a sour note with the media denied the usual rights to listen to the inaugural address of the NEC Chairman and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The media were allowed to be present only during the lightening of the lamps and felicitation before asked to leave the auditorium. Interestingly, even the employees of State-run media like the 'All India Radio' and the 'Doordarshan' were given similar orders.

This unprecedented experience of the media sent the press team into a state of shock. No reason was cited by the NEC officials for forcing the media to exit in a matter of minutes. This is despite the fact that invitations for the occasion were sent to the media houses. However, a well placed source told The Sentinel that an official notice was sent from the Union Home Ministry to restrict the media. The source also informed that the video-conferencing scheduled with the 39 Members of Parliament (MPs) was also cancelled at the last moment. No reasons were cited for cancellation of the web cast.

The Shillong press fraternity has taken serious exception on the denial to cover the event which is essential to the public information and discourse.

ARUNACHAL CORRESPONDENT ADDS: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig. (retd) Dr B.D. Mishra on Saturday requested the Centre to initiate measures for development of border infrastructure in the State, especially the areas along the Indo-China border.

Speaking at the inaugural day of the two-day 69th plenary of North East Council (NEC) at Shillong which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the governor pointed out that due to the difficult terrain and inaccessible high mountains in the border areas of the State, there is a pressing need for road building and development of the far-flung villages.

Stating that during the last couple of years, the Centre assisted the State in this direction, the Governor added that, however, there is a lot more to be done in the improvement of infrastructure on the Indo-China border.

"The State government is paying full attention to the law- and-order issues in three districts namely, Tirap, Changlang and Longding and four police stations of Namsai, Roing, Mahadevpur and Sunpura which are under the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and that measures for effectively countering the cases of insurgency in the state have been ensured," he disclosed, adding that the State has recently got an officer of Major General Rank on deputation as the Security Advisor for the State.

"For the internal security and law and order, the government is strengthening the police set up, but it needs the help and assistance of the Centre for putting the crime and criminal network system in each district in place. Effort is under way to boost the training, working efficiency and morale of the state police force," he said.

The Governor also highlighted on the pressing need for enhancing electricity power grid, potable water distribution system and increasing the number of Advance Landing Grounds.

He expressed his hope that the union Home Ministry would fully help the State in its effort in making appropriate infrastructural improvement which is required for improving the well being of the people.

Dr Mishra further highlighted the need for funds to construct foot suspension bridges at many remote places which would improve the mobility and movement of the people and the Army units, who are doing very good work in cooperating with the civil administration and helping the local populace.

Requesting Shah — who is also the Chairman of NEC — to continue providing the necessary help for the development of Arunachal Pradesh, the Governor said that the people of Arunachal Pradesh have resolved to make the State and the country 'Atmanirbhar'.

Mishra also expressed concern on the huge loss of lives and the turbulent situation that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused to human lives all over the country and reminded the leadership displayed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in sailing the country through the crisis not only as the head of the government but also as a world leader. (IANS)

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