Minister hints at development deal for Manipur

‘‘Manipur is a complex situation, indeed,’’ said Kyndiah, a veteran Congress leader from the region. He said there are no short-cuts for improving the situation and only a slew of developmental, especially job-generating, projects executed over a period would help. Besides, the appointment of a ‘‘local man’’ as the Centre’s special advisor on Manipur would be the beginning of a healing process in the state.

Kyndiah — who believes poor development and lack of job opportunities for the youth were sustaining rebellious feelings in the region — said a major non-government campaign at improving relations with neighbouring countries would help diffuse tensions.

According to Kyndiah, people in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram have social relations and affinity to many communities in Myanmar and opening of borders would help. He added that while the Government was working on relations with the neighbours, he preferred a non-governmental endeavour. ‘‘My ministry will act as a catalyst in such efforts,’’ he added.

He said, earlier, MPs such as Eduardo Falario and Gen (retd) Shankar Roychowdhary and himself, had started a track two initiative to improving relations with neighbouring countries of the North-East. ‘‘I have to sit with them and find out what can be done next.’’

Kyndiah says while the Centre is committed to talking to all rebel groups, his ministry was proposing a vision of the North-East as an economic bridge between South-East Asia and India. ‘‘When people in Delhi think the region is still infested with insurgents, they should know that ADB has sanctioned $1 million for a survey on expanding civic amenities and services in all seven states of the region,’’ he said.