The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Centre blamed for woes of North-East

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Sunday, Oct 17, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Centre blamed for woes of North-East

By Our Staff Reporter

KHAMMAM, OCT. 16. Under development is the main problem in the North-Eastern States and it is mainly because of the apathy of successive Governments at the Centre, according to the Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar.

He was here on Friday night to attend the 23rd State-level conference of the Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham.

Talking to reporters, he said development of infrastructure was neglected in the North-East. Tripura was a tiny State but it was endowed with natural resources. In order to exploit them, infrastructure development was a must. Kashmir was given so much importance in the country. The NE States also needed equal attention. They would be able to catch up with the pace of development only when they were given their due, he said.

Extremist problem

Replying to a question, he said the extremist problem in Andhra Pradesh cannot be equated with the situation in the North-Eastern States. The problem started in Nagaland many years ago. The extremist groups operating in the NE States have their hideouts in Bangladesh. The ISI was also out to create problems. The situation was really alarming and the problem needed to be handled sternly, he said.

He said the problem of landlords was not much in Tripura. The Government had been distributing religiously lands to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the poor.

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