GUWAHATI, Feb 12 ? The China Government?s action of developing infrastructure all along the international border may pose grave security threat to India and the Arunachal Pradesh Government has already informed the Centre about the development. This was disclosed by Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Takam Sanjoy, who is also the State Government spokesman.
Talking to The Assam Tribune here on his way to Itanagar from New Delhi, Sri Sanjoy said that the border with China should be taken very seriously by the Government of India as ?we do not want a repeat of 1962?. He said that the China Government has started constructing a road all along the McMohan line and the Centre should give due importance on the international border as is done in case of the border with Pakistan. He said that the Government of India should also take immediate steps to improve road communication all along the international boundary to thwart any possible attempt by China to intrude into the territory of India. However, he said that the Defence Ministry has started constructing a strategically important road in Pali-Coloriang-Daming-Sarli sectors, for which heavy machineries are being brought by choppers. He also revealed that the Defence Minister George Fernandes has started paying due importance to the international border.
Sri Sanjoy said that the Arunachal Pradesh Government is concerned about the presence of militants based in the neighbouring States in the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal and the State Governor and Chief Minister have time and again taken up the matter with the Centra Government. He said that after the cease-fire agreement with the Government of India, cadres of both factions of the NSCN have set up bases in the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, which created problems for the State Government as the militants are involved in anti-social activities like extortions. ?We want a solution to the Naga problem and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh is ready to extend full cooperation to the ongoing peace talks. But we will never allow the territorial integrity of Assam to be affected,? he added.
The Arunachal Government spokesman said that Arunachal areas bordering Assam have become sanctuaries of the militants belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the State Government does not have adequate forces to deal with the situation. He alleged that the State Government has been demanding deployment of adequate para-military forces to deal with the situation but unfortunately the Centre is not paying due attention. He said that the Arunachal Government is not in a position to strengthen its own police force without the help of the Centre. ?If this situation continues, the only island of peace in the North-Eastern region may be taken over by the terrorists and unwanted elements,? he warned.
The Arunachal Government welcomed the peace accord between the Central and State Governments and Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) and hoped that it would bring lasting solution to the Bodo tangle. He complemented the Central and Assam Governments as well as the Bodo leaders for arriving at a solution and appealed to all other militant outfits of the region to come forward for talks for restoration of peace in the entire region.
On the issue of Chakma and Hajong refugees, Sri Sanjoy said that the issue is now pending before the Court. However, at the same time, he said that the Arunachal Government has not changed its stand on the issue. ?If the Central Government wants to settle the refugees elsewhere in the country, we have no objection. But we cannot allow them to be settled in Arunachal Pradesh,? he added. Sri Sanjoy recently met the new Minister in charge of the Department of Development of North-Eastern Region (DONER) Sri CP Thakur at New Delhi and requested him to take appropriate steps for boosting the economy of the region. The Arunachal Government is of the view that the non-lapsable Central pool of funds should be used only for infrastructure development, particularly in the power, roads, water supply and such other sectors. He said that there were some confusion regarding the use of the non-lapsable pool and now the DONER has made it clear that the schemes submitted by the States must be approved by the Planning Department and the Chief Minister of the concerned State.
Tourism: The flow of tourists to Arunachal Pradesh has increased by 30 to 40 per cent in the last couple of years as the tourism potential of the State has come to the notice of both the domestic and foreign tourists. Sri Sanjoy said that the State Government has launched a publicity drive, while, thrust has also been given on tour operators. The introduction of chopper services from Guwahati to Itanagar also gave a boost to the tourism sector, he added.
Sri Sanjoy said that the State has been divided into three major tourism sectors. The main tourist attraction in the Bhalukpung-Bomdila-Tawang tourism sector is the Buddha Festival, the attraction in the Tirap-Changlung-Tezu-Pachighat sector is the Brahmaputra Darshan, while, the Arunachal festival is the main attraction in the Itanagar-Along-Zero-Sepa sector. Apart from these festivals, the Arunachal Government is holding cultural and indigenous food festivals in different parts of the State to attract tourists, Sri Sanjoy added.