Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said he does not believe in the idea of bringing the Northeast to the mainstream because all regions have their individuality that should remain intact.
The Minister was speaking at a student parliament for Northeast organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP.
“People always say bring Northeast to the mainstream. What is this mainstream? All regions have their individual identity and culture. Whatever happens in a culture is mainstream for that place,” Mr. Rijiju said while addressing students and student leaders from the Northeast.
He also added that for complete development, the Northeast has to open up for its international neighbours.
“We cannot live in isolation... the Northeast has to open border trade in order to develop. There should be engagement with the neighbours because they affect the prosperity of the people living in the border areas,” Mr. Rijiju said.
He said more than the developments happening in New Delhi, it is the neighbouring countries that affects the prosperity of the people living near them.
Reiterating his appeal to the youth who have taken up arms to return, Mr. Rijiju said: “We will welcome you. Please return. This is what I have been saying and many people have accepted my call, while those who are yet to make the decision, I tell them to come back. We will hold a dialogue with you but give up on violence.”
The three-day event concluded on Saturday. The other two topics discussed included women’s issues and tribal issues.
The issues discussed in the parliament during the day included education, development, security and opportunities. Student leaders also got opportunities to question officers from the Ministry Of Development Of North Eastern Region, Tourism Ministry and Home Ministry.
A draft declaration was prepared after a day-long discussion on issues related to the Northeast. Some of the points mentioned in the draft are reiterating the commitment to work for national integrity, working on improving the overall structure in the region like health facilities and educational institutions, protecting cultural heritage, reaffirming the commitment towards drugs-free, corruption-free and violence-free Northeast.
While the first day was dedicated to tribal students at a seminar titled ‘Tribal Student-Youth Parliament’, the remaining two days were dedicated to ‘Women-Student Parliament’ and ‘Northeast Student-Youth Leaders Parliament’
The report on issues that resulted from the discussions of the three student parliaments will be handed over to the ministries concerned in the form of a memorandum.
PTI adds
The student parliament also issued a declaration at the parliament.
“The parliament reiterates its commitment to work for national integration and unity, stresses the need to focus on improving overall infrastructure in the region, aims at promotion of cultural heritage and identity...,” the declaration said.
Earlier in the day, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said: “We should look at Northeast as a region with potential for growth and should not look down upon it as a backward region.”
“There are seamless opportunities in the Northeast and the present Union government is giving special attention to the Northeast. We should look at the region with potential for growth and should not look down upon it as a backward region,” Mr. Sonowal said.
People always say bring Northeast to the mainstream. What is this mainstream? All regions have their individual identity and culture. Whatever happens in a culture is mainstream for that place
