Politics / Northeast

NEW DELHI, May 26 – Aiming for economic development of the North-east by restoring peace, the Centre today appealed to the insurgents there to come to the negotiating table saying "dialogue is the only way to solve all problems", reports PTI. "Insurgents must realise that it is time for all of us to recognise the importance of dialogue. The insurgents may be misguided because of economic deprivation but it is important for all of us to believe in the dialogue process as it is the only way to solve all problems," Tribal Affairs and NE Development Minister PR Kyndiah told PTI. He said his...

May 24: Indian intelligence agencies and the army have begun exchanging information with their Myanmar counterparts in preparation for a full-fledged offensive against Northeast militants operating from that country. A senior official of the army’s 4 Corps, headquartered in the central Assam town of Tezpur, said information had been received about the number of militant camps in Myanmar, their locations and logistical details.

“We have pinpointed the locations of the camps of Northeast militants in that country with their help. They have given us a list of camps that the Chin National Army...

Jorhat, May 24: Nagaland today cried foul over the eviction of 16 Naga families from their homes in the vicinity of the Desoi Valley reserve forest, re-igniting the border land dispute that has been a thorn in its otherwise cordial relationship with Assam. Mokokchung deputy commissioner Imkon Tamchu formally complained about this to his Jorhat counterpart, saying the dispute would intensify if Assam “continues to evict Naga villagers from their land”.

Jorhat is one of the four districts bordering Nagaland.

Tamchu said a police team from Assam raided Charang Basti, a Naga-inhabited village...

GUWAHATI, May 24 – Nine voluntary organisations of the NE region have embarked on a venture to make the country’s policy towards the tribals a realistic one by giving it the required down-to-earth touch. For the purpose, these organisations have proposed a three-day convention at Akajan Gate in Dhemaji district from June 2 next.

The organisations initiating the move include—Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE), Rural Volunteers Centre, Indigenous Women’s Resource Centre, Indian Confederation of Indigenous & Tribal Peoples—North Eastern Zone (ICITP-NEZ), Arunachal Pradesh Women...

NEW DELHI, May 24 – Resolution of the problem of militancy in the North Eastern Region (NER) is likely to be one of the key focus areas, with Union Ministers from the region advocating meaningful dialogue with the underground outfits. If Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) PR Kyndiah set the tone by advocating the need for a sustained dialogue with the underground outfits, his colleagues from the region also underlined the need for early resolution of the problem.

Earlier, it was Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil who soon after...

Agartala, May 23: The Reang tribals, identified as the only “primitive group” in Tripura, have set in motion a process of unity under the banner of a socio-cultural organisation to protect the interests of the community. A state convention of Reang “Chowdhurys” (chieftains) is being held in Karbook area under Amarpur subdivision of South Tripura to float a new organisation.

More than 500 Reang chieftains from all over the state are attending the meeting, though CPM MP from East Tripura, Bajuban Reang, will not attend as he is in Delhi.

Vasishtha Reang, a senior leader of the community, said...

NEW DELHI, May 23 – Union Cabinet Minister PR Kyndiah has been given charge of Tribal Affairs and DONER, Santosh Mohan Deb Minister of State (Independant) charge given Department of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise and BK Handique made Minister of State for Defence and Parliamentary Affairs.

While Kyndiah and SM Deb wee more less satisfied, Handique was expecting some developmental ministry having importance for NE region. They are likely to join next week.

Earlier, with wrangling over distribution of portfolios among allies of the United Progressive Alliance, the newly-elected...

NEW DELHI, May 22 – The North Eastern Region has a fair representation in Dr Manmohan Singh Council of Ministers, with President, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam swearing in Bijoy Krsihna Handique, PR Kyndiah and Santosh Mohan Dev. While Kyndiah was given Cabinet status, Santosh Mohan Deb was made Minister of State with independent charge, the same status he held in PV Narasimha Rao’s ministry and Sri Handique given Minister of State status. Representation of North-east in the Congress-led-United Progressive Alliance is a shade better given that the previous NDA regime had only one Minister of State in...

New Delhi, May 16: The North East People’s Forum (NEPF), which was formed last year to checkmate the Left and the Congress in the region, is showing signs of confusion with Sonia Gandhi all but taking over the reins of power in Delhi. Parliamentarian Purno A. Sangma, whose idea it was to float the forum of non-Congress parties barring the Left, has been unambiguous in his stand about not supporting a Sonia Gandhi-led alliance at the Centre. His NEPF ally and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio is, however, non-committal on the subject.

Rio, whose Nagaland People’s Front’s is an ally of the...

GUWAHATI, May 16 – The State’s premier regional outfit, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has decided to take the lead in the formation of a joint forum of regional parties from across the country to secure regional interests. The party is planning to organise a national convention of all such parties soon to formalise the alliance. Disclosing this to presspersons, on the sidelines of the central executive committee meeting of the party here this afternoon, AGP spokesman Jagadish Bhuyan said that the party will shortly establish contact with all regional parties in this regard.

The decision to...