On the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh visited Imphal today. This visit is in the wake of the violent incident in Chandel area resulting in killing of 18 Indian soldiers followed by the surgical strike by Indian forces against the terrorists. The Minister said he had come here to restore confidence in the people of the region and assured them that violence will not be allowed to hamper the Modi Government’s mission for development of Northeast.
Dr. Jitendra Singh made a courtesy call to the Manipur Governor Syed Ahmed, which was followed by a detailed meeting with the senior officers of administration and members of security forces in the presence of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. During the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Centre was fully committed to cooperate with the State government in carrying forward the development agenda of Modi Government, which is a high priority. Later in the day, Dr Jitendra Singh held a joint meeting with different political and social groups and representatives of civil society, in which he said that the message should go out loud and clear to everybody, including those who are not able to attend today’s meeting that all of us are jointly committed to maintain atmosphere of peace and harmony in the region because any incident that disturbs peace has an adverse effect on the development. Referring to the recent surgical strike by Indian forces killing the terrorists who had ambushed Indian soldiers, he said, sometimes such actions are resorted to in order to check the elements which tend to disturb peace, but overall the government’s approach is that of reconciliation, peace and mutual existence as well as mutual cooperation with all groups of society. “We have a stake in maintaining peace and depending on the situation, sometimes an initiative like this has to be undertaken to maintain peace”, he added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh asserted that the peace process which has been initiated in the Northeast will not be allowed to suffer setback at any cost and went on to add that the people in the region are fed up of violence and they yearn for an atmosphere of peace where their aspirations can be fulfilled. Addressing a press conference in the evening, Dr Jitendra Singh brushed aside the observations in a section of media that India was going to be aggressive or hawkish in its approach in Northeast and said that his visit today was a kind of peace mission to ensure that Northeast will be brought up at par with the rest of the country, regardless of the disruptions and disturbances created by the elements which are inimicable to the integration and progress of Northeast as a part of mainstream India.