SHILLONG: The Centre is set to step up bilateral ties with Bhutan and Myanmar with an eye to improving trading through the North East.
Speaking to reporters at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Dawki Integrated Check Post on Tuesday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “We are planning to open more ICPs, border haats and land customs in some more areas.”
The Minister said the number of ICPs and haats will be increased along the borders with Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh to ensure that the potential of northeastern region is fully utilised.
When asked about India’s rocky relationship with China, he said there are some land boundary issues though he maintained that the two countries share a normal relationship.
Dawki is the entrepôt for Guwahati-Shillong-Sylhet-Dhaka bus route and the major items of trade are coal, limestone, boulder stone, packaged food and plastic furniture.
As per the immigrant data maintained by National Informatics Centre, the total arrival is 16,000 and departure is 15,000.
Replying to a query on talks of bringing back Hindus in Bangladesh to India, he said, “Anybody who comes to India due to religious persecution has to be given shelter. We are a democratic country and we give shelter to anybody who has lost his home.”
Commenting on the Manipur polls, Rijiju said the Ministry is reviewing the situation and the government is committed to ensuring law and order.
