BJP hopes for stability in N-E

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 29. Welcoming the imposition of President's rule in the violence-hit Manipur, the BJP today hoped that the State would regain political stability in the near future and the Northeastern region would witness accelerated efforts for all- round development.

A resolution on the Northeast situation was adopted by the party's national executive today on its concluding day of the three-day session. During discussions on the situation in the Northeast, particularly the turmoil in Manipur and the Naga Ceasefire Agreement, much heat was generated.

It is understood that the party's in-charge of the Northeast affairs, Mr. Padmanabhacharya, was virtually put down during discussions by the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani. The Home Minister reportedly charged him with being totally irresponsible and immature in his articulation of the Manipur situation which had portrayed the BJP as trying to get its government installed in the State by engineering defections.

Noting that normal life in Manipur was affected after violent protests broke out against the June 14 Naga Ceasefire Agreement which extended the truce beyond Nagaland, the resolution felt that the ceasefire's extension had been misunderstood by the people.

``The extension of the ceasefire to a few other States, including Manipur, made people of Manipur to have apprehensions that their territorial integrity would be affected. Assurances by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister together with the steps taken to revoke the extension of the ceasefire beyond the boundaries of Nagaland, would go a long way in restoring normality in Manipur,'' the resolution said.

The party's national executive also suggested nine- points to the Centre for the overall development of the entire Northeast region. These include setting up hydro-electric projects, improving roads and communication links, taking effective flood control measures, toning up security and administrative machinery and promoting small-scale industries.

Expressing satisfaction over the Prime Minister's Rs. 10,500- crore package for economic progress of the region, the party's national executive called upon the Centre to devise a mechanism for monitoring of the implementation of the package.

It noted that massive influx of infiltrators from a neigbouring country had not only adversely affected the social, political and electoral balance but also changed demographic profile of the region. The resolution said the area had become vulnerable to ISI activities as well as those of extremists and religious fundamentalists. Secessionist activities had disrupted normal life of the people, jeopardising smooth implementation of various development schemes.

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Section  : National
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