Centre committed to peace in NE : Advani

KOHIMA, February 24: Union Home Minister L K Advani today assured the people of the Northeast that New Delhi would do all possible to restore peace in the region, saying "Centre is very much conscious about the happenings in the north eastern states," reports PTI. Expressing happiness over the people's desire for peace, the Home Minister said the Centre has been trying to discover ways and means to restore peace, bring development, generate employment opportunities in the strifetorn region. The NDA government was very concerned from the outset about the Northeast and continuously endeavoured to restore peace and development in the region, Advani said. Inaugurating the spring festival and Governor's secretariat building at the Raj Bhawan premises, Advani said the NDA government immediately after coming to power, first convened a meeting of the NE States, and last year the Prime Minister convened a meeting of governors and Chief Ministers of the region at Shillong. The Home Minister also laid stress on good governance, saying that it depended on the state government's actions, not on "speeches or rhetoric, which sound good." Appreciating the benediction offered to him in a song presented at the function, Advani said. "I have special responsibility towards the people of Nagaland in particular and the region in general," as the people's enthusiasm and exuberance definitely expressed their honest desire for peace and development. Our Imphal Correspondent adds : Union Defence George Fernandes has assured the newly installed Samata party-led Peoples' Front ministry in Manipur that the centre would extend all possible help to it. Talking to newsmen at the banquet hall of 1st MR here during his brief visit to the State after attending the 'Brahmaputra Darshan' in Arunachal Pradesh this afternoon, the Defence Minister appealed to the insurgent groups of Manipur to come forward for a meaningful dialogue to sort out their problems. Fernandes said: "The militants should remember that they are hurting not only their near and dear ones but also the future generations" adding, "Manipur has a great past. I believe that it will have a great future." Regarding the newly installed PF Ministry's proposal to the Centre to announce "unilateral ceasefire" between the India Government and Insurgent groups in Manipur, George Fernandes made it clear: "We've endorsed the Chief Minister's proposal."