From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who is contesting from the North East in the upper house this month for consecutive terms assured a delegation of the North East Students Organization including those from Meghalaya that his Government will favorably look into their various demands including repealing of the controversial AFSA.
But at the same time the Prime Minister urged the student leaders to realise the ground realities themselves and convince others since they have a big role to play in the landlocked region. An all party parliamentary delegation will soon visit the region to have an on the spot study on AFSA and the Government has no hesitation to repeal it if all demand for it, he said.
“But at the same time AFSA is not applicable to common citizens but only for the militants who have taken up arms against the nation and its peace loving people,” Dr Singh said. He also agreed for stopping alleged illegal immigration but maintained that genuine citizens mainly the Bengalee speaking ones should not be harassed unnecessarily.
Referring to the land swap deal with Bangladesh signed during his last visit to Dhaka, Dr Singh said that the agreement was signed way back in 1974 and the Government is only implementing it. “Moreover, it will help the people living in the area for all practical purposes and overall the country is not losing any land,” he said.
The Prime Minister also dismissed reports of abolishing DoNER Ministry but agreed to revamp it if needed. “I guarantee that the DoNER Ministry will not be abolished,” he said in presence of Pawan Singh Ghatwar, Minsiter for DoNER and former Union Minsiter Vincent H Pala who were present along with the student leaders from NESO including its General Secretary Samuel B Jyrwa from Meghalaya who did most of the talking.
Dr Singh also assured that peace will prevail in the region with the Government pursing a peace policy, the student leaders later told reporters outside the Parliament after the meeting. He is leaving for the region later this month to file his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha.