Centre to hold meeting of NE chief ministers on terror: Rijiju

IANS
SHILLONG, DECEMBER 19

The central government would soon hold a meeting with all chief ministers of the eight northeastern states to discuss the security threat by jihadi groups, union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijju said here Friday. “The issue (security threat) is serious and a meeting with chief ministers of the states from the (northeast) region will be convened soon to discuss and take strategic decisions,” Rijiju said.
He was speaking to journalists after inspecting the India-Bangladesh border in the Dawki sector in Meghalaya.
“In that meeting, strategic decision will be taken on the law and order front as well as security aspect of the whole region,” he said while refusing to divulge details about the spread of terror modules in the region.
He said the chairman of the joint intelligence committee has also briefed him about the steps taken to tackle terror activities in the region.
In recent months, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested a number of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operatives, including Sahanur Alam wanted in the Oct 2 Burdwan blast case.
Alam, who is number three in the hierarchy of the Assam module of the JMB, had even spent sometime in the plains belt of Garo hills of Meghalaya before his arrest.
Rijiju said the central government has constituted a standing committee of the inter-state council headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
“Inter-state council is a recommendatory body to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between the centre and states or among the states for better coordination of policy and action,” he said.
On the India-China border issue, Rijiju said most of the border areas with China are inaccessible.
“Since the MacMohan Line has not been delineated, the troops in the past used to cross the border areas especially from the Chinese side. The Indian forces did not cross but went to their own territory as they have to monitor the inaccessible border areas which are around 30 km away from the camps,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister appealed to all members of various rebel groups to join the mainstream, saying their illegal activities were not affecting anyone except their own community.
“Their (rebels) activities are not affecting New Delhi or any other place but they are doing disservice to their people and the state,” he said.
Besides, he said the central government was putting extra focus on the development of every sector of the northeast region.
“We will ensure that in five years, we transform the economy and social cultural aspect of northeast in a positive manner,” he said.

Centre bringing policy for safety of NE people in metros

Union Home Ministry is coming up with a ‘policy’ to look into the safety and security of the North East people residing in metros besides introduction of NE subject in the syllabus of CBSE from next season.
“I am ready with a policy and I am going to lay down certain laws through Home Ministry next week,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said while addressing at Golden Jubilee celebration of Synod College here today.
“We are going to give directions and advisories to all the states and certain provisions for every ministry of Centre for the well being of NE region,” he said.
Informing that CBSE will have a chapter about the NE region from its next season, Rijiju said, “It is not enough that we learn only the history of mainland India but it is absolutely necessary that the mainland India should study the history of North Eastern region.”
Rijiju, hailing from North East’s Arunachal Pradesh state, also expressed personal concern on the increase cases of discrimination against the people from the region.
“I feel very sad. Such incidents are happening everyday,” he said informing that everyday he receives messages that some NE boy is being beaten up in Chennai and some NE girl was harassed in Pune.
The minister further informed that the Centre is also going to have all kinds of recruitments drive in all central armed forces, military or any other uniform organizations with special emphasis and special care to ensure that the people of NE region are also being recruited.
“We are going to see that the information and broadcasting Ministry propagates to ensure that NE people are visible,” he said.
Highlighting more on the plan of actions, he also informed that every police stations in the metropolitan cities of India will be having committees where anybody from NE region resides in the colony will be part of the committees.
“If anything happens to any of the NE persons and if police fails to take action, that police will have to face the prosecution,” he said.
He said, “Why not look properly as we are very important region in this country. We are proud to be Indians, we are proud of NE region but we want to be proud with dignity and honour. It is everybody wants as a citizen of this great nation.”
(PTI)