|
Reghupathy Raja, confused praja
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=14&theme=&usrsess=1&id=99610 The confusion caused by S. Reghupathys statement in the Rajya Sabha this week was but natural. When a minister of state for home affairs in the Government of India declares before Parliament that there is a "cease-fire/suspension of operations" against as many as nine militant groups in the North-east, including three new to the list the Naga National Council, the Hynnietrip National Liberation Council and the United Liberation Front of Assam the chances are that Parliament, government, media and the pubic are likely to believe him. But was it a slip of the tongue or an _expression_ of intent? This only strengthens our view that many in the Home Mi nistry still know very little about the North-east and for a minister to make a statement which confounds the facts shows how little he knows of the internal security situation in the country, not to speak of issues under his own ministry. The usual list of cease-fire situations was mentioned by Mr Reghupathy, including the two factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland and others, but then he sprang a major surprise by naming Ulfa, the NNC and the HNLF as beneficiaries of a cease-fire/suspension of operations. Hopes were generated briefly and then quashed once the army and officials in the home and defence ministries reacted furiously and indicated that there was no such decision on Ulfa and the other two groups. Perhaps one could give Mr Reghupathy the benefit of the doubt. We could remark that he was probably looking into the future one does not know quite what the length of his vision was i.e. how many months or years he was contemplating for this process when he spoke. But what is clear is that all groups in the North-east have to be brought into cease-fire mode. And that would have to be mutual and not unilateral. But New Delhi has to avoid the kind of gaffes it made this week. |
|
Discussion on this North East Page item Disclaimer: These are Internet generated discussion threads for which the The Statesman has no responsibility. |
|
No discussions on this item |
Don't just search. Find. MSN Search Check out the new MSN Search!
_______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
