India that every Indian envisages for: 'North East Gravely Imperiled' -- 1996 and 2023 :::: Recalling L K Advani days as BJP President

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

'North East Gravely Imperiled' -- 1996 and 2023 :::: Recalling L K Advani days as BJP President

Too distant, but not too alienated: BJP, Congress and North East

'North East Gravely Imperiled' -- 1996 and 2023

New Delhi

In January issue of circa 1996 the 'BJP Today' carried excerpts of the speech made by the then BJP President L K Advani at the party's Mumbai convention. "Pt Nehru bequeathed to us Kashmir, Mrs Gandhi (Indira) left behind Punjab. Rajivji gave India the mess called LTTE and now Prime Minister (Narasimha Rao), apart from further complicating the muddle in Kashmir,

has been making his own contribution to the North East," Advani had told his party national executive members.

A number of regional leaders including the then NPC president Vamuzo also had attended the meet.

The Lok Sabha election was round the corner and all analysts suggest the saffron party will emerge as the single largest party. In fact, Kolkata-based 'Sunday' magazine run by 'Ananda Bazar' group and edited by Vir Sanghvi also had run a cover story in January 1996 portraying BJP strongman Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Man of the Year.

In fact, the year latter spanned as almost predicted and that was the year India had Vajpayee as PM for 13 days making way for someone called H D Deve Gowda to become India's Prime Minister.

Things have changed a lot in last 28 years, yet some issues seemingly appear to be the same. That's the paradox; and it is more so in Nagaland.

Let us get back to Advani's Mumbai speech yet again. He had said: "When we talk about the criminal-politician nexus, let us not think not only of Bihar or UP or Bombay or Gujarat or of Delhi. There is a greater threat in the North East, a threat to national integrity".

In the same speech Advani had spoken about "colluding" of politicians with the terror elements. The reference to the northeast region in Advani's speech was carried under the catchy caption - 'North East Gravely Imperiled'.

Now we are in 2023 and any Congress leader may like to make almost a similar speech blaming the BJP and the Modi government for all the problems - northeast, Kashmir and even Punjab to an extent. In other words, same things and challenges have come back to haunt us again and again.

In the context of Nagaland, things appear more serious and complex. Some Naga leaders -- middle level and senior ones only sound utterly frustrated these days.

Some of their detractors try to call them even 'irrelevant'. But the fact of the matter is there are 'multiple authorities that are exploiting" the state and it's people for the last 20 years and more. The real issue is "impunity" to a large extent for corruption, exploitation and extortion.

Obviously, one argument is that the Govt of India should also be blamed for the growing lawlessness.

"In the name of ceasefire normal law and order was allowed to cease," says a senior leader on the condition of anonymity. Many agree but they also prefer to keep the conversations 'off the record'.

I need not speak much on already muddled issues more. But the Modi government will do well to realise that the status quo it had endorsed is really dangerous.

This is a time therefore to seriously examine what are the real hurdles and elements that are virtually destroying the very 'fibre of governance'.

Some years back, noted columnist Kuldip Nayar had written -- "Nearly 80 per cent of the money that comes from the centre for development goes to the pockets of ministers, officials and their hangers-on. Every head of department gives the underground their share before he distributes salaries among the employees. There is hardly a shop or office in Kohima that resists extortion".

Kuldip Nayar was also candid and he had sought to touch the raw nerve of the people -- of both, those in the government and those 'governed'. He wrote -- still the Nagas "remain very religious".

"Every village has a church and every church a priest. But the preachings have made no dent on corruption or infighting".

ends

Centre sets Up panel of Secretaries To fast-track Infra projects in northern borders

The central government has set-up a Committee of Secretaries to fast-track infrastructure projects in the form of roads, tunnels and bridges along the northern borders with China.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, March 14.

The meeting reviewed the progress in the construction of various infrastructure projects on the northern border areas.

This comes at a time when there is almost three-year-long issues in eastern Ladakh.
“All pending projects should be expedited on top priority,” Singh said, stressing the need for adopting the “whole of nation” approach in matters of national security.

Sources said the procurement proposal for the missiles and associated equipment will soon be taken up

for consideration by the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC). It will be subsequently

taken up for clearance by the cabinet committee on security which is headed by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi.

The committee of secretaries from the ministries of defence, road, transport & highways, telecommunications,

environment and power, among others, will “meet at frequent intervals” to fast-track the projects.

Among the ministers who attended the meeting were Nitin Gadkari (Road, Transport & Highways), Ashwini

Vaishnaw (Railways and Communication), R K Singh (Power) and Bhupender Yadav (Environment).

Sources said, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu, Uttarakhand

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Brig (Dr) B D Mishra (Retd) were also present.

Several infrastructure projects are on the anvil along the northern borders.

The cabinet committee on security has recently approved the Rs 1,681 crore construction of the strategically-crucial

4.1-km tunnel under the forbidding Shinkun La on the border between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.

Nine new tunnels are under construction at present, which includes the 2.5-km Sela tunnel to Tawang in Arunachal

Pradesh.

There has also been a remarkable push for border infrastructure development in the North East along the Line of

Actual Control (LAC). Last month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of Rs 5,000

crore for border infrastructure projects for 2023-24, up from Rs 3,500 crore in the previous fiscal.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 28 border infrastructure projects worth Rs 724 crore in January 2023.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, Army Chief, General Manoj Pande,

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane also attended the meeting.

In the past three years, there has been a significant growth in border infrastructure, particularly along the

northern borders, in terms of new roads, bridges and tunnels to boost forward connectivity.

ends

India that every Indian envisages for

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

'North East Gravely Imperiled' -- 1996 and 2023 :::: Recalling L K Advani days as BJP President

Too distant, but not too alienated: BJP, Congress and North East

'North East Gravely Imperiled' -- 1996 and 2023

New Delhi

has been making his own contribution to the North East," Advani had told his party national executive members.

A number of regional leaders including the then NPC president Vamuzo also had attended the meet.

In fact, the year latter spanned as almost predicted and that was the year India had Vajpayee as PM for 13 days making way for someone called H D Deve Gowda to become India's Prime Minister.

Things have changed a lot in last 28 years, yet some issues seemingly appear to be the same. That's the paradox; and it is more so in Nagaland.

Let us get back to Advani's Mumbai speech yet again. He had said: "When we talk about the criminal-politician nexus, let us not think not only of Bihar or UP or Bombay or Gujarat or of Delhi. There is a greater threat in the North East, a threat to national integrity".

In the same speech Advani had spoken about "colluding" of politicians with the terror elements. The reference to the northeast region in Advani's speech was carried under the catchy caption - 'North East Gravely Imperiled'.

Now we are in 2023 and any Congress leader may like to make almost a similar speech blaming the BJP and the Modi government for all the problems - northeast, Kashmir and even Punjab to an extent. In other words, same things and challenges have come back to haunt us again and again.

In the context of Nagaland, things appear more serious and complex. Some Naga leaders -- middle level and senior ones only sound utterly frustrated these days.

Some of their detractors try to call them even 'irrelevant'. But the fact of the matter is there are 'multiple authorities that are exploiting" the state and it's people for the last 20 years and more. The real issue is "impunity" to a large extent for corruption, exploitation and extortion.

Obviously, one argument is that the Govt of India should also be blamed for the growing lawlessness.

"In the name of ceasefire normal law and order was allowed to cease," says a senior leader on the condition of anonymity. Many agree but they also prefer to keep the conversations 'off the record'.

I need not speak much on already muddled issues more. But the Modi government will do well to realise that the status quo it had endorsed is really dangerous.

This is a time therefore to seriously examine what are the real hurdles and elements that are virtually destroying the very 'fibre of governance'.

Kuldip Nayar was also candid and he had sought to touch the raw nerve of the people -- of both, those in the government and those 'governed'. He wrote -- still the Nagas "remain very religious".

"Every village has a church and every church a priest. But the preachings have made no dent on corruption or infighting".

ends

Centre sets Up panel of Secretaries To fast-track Infra projects in northern borders

The central government has set-up a Committee of Secretaries to fast-track infrastructure projects in the form of roads, tunnels and bridges along the northern borders with China.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, March 14.

The meeting reviewed the progress in the construction of various infrastructure projects on the northern border areas.

This comes at a time when there is almost three-year-long issues in eastern Ladakh.
“All pending projects should be expedited on top priority,” Singh said, stressing the need for adopting the “whole of nation” approach in matters of national security.

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Democracy might be a cherished ... and highly appreciated political doctrine ... but Singapore is an example that Good Leadership and hard work often counts 'better'

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

'North East Gravely Imperiled' -- 1996 and 2023 :::: Recalling L K Advani days as BJP President

Too distant, but not too alienated: BJP, Congress and North East

'North East Gravely Imperiled' -- 1996 and 2023

New Delhi

has been making his own contribution to the North East," Advani had told his party national executive members.

A number of regional leaders including the then NPC president Vamuzo also had attended the meet.

In fact, the year latter spanned as almost predicted and that was the year India had Vajpayee as PM for 13 days making way for someone called H D Deve Gowda to become India's Prime Minister.

Things have changed a lot in last 28 years, yet some issues seemingly appear to be the same. That's the paradox; and it is more so in Nagaland.

Let us get back to Advani's Mumbai speech yet again. He had said: "When we talk about the criminal-politician nexus, let us not think not only of Bihar or UP or Bombay or Gujarat or of Delhi. There is a greater threat in the North East, a threat to national integrity".

In the same speech Advani had spoken about "colluding" of politicians with the terror elements. The reference to the northeast region in Advani's speech was carried under the catchy caption - 'North East Gravely Imperiled'.

Now we are in 2023 and any Congress leader may like to make almost a similar speech blaming the BJP and the Modi government for all the problems - northeast, Kashmir and even Punjab to an extent. In other words, same things and challenges have come back to haunt us again and again.

In the context of Nagaland, things appear more serious and complex. Some Naga leaders -- middle level and senior ones only sound utterly frustrated these days.

Some of their detractors try to call them even 'irrelevant'. But the fact of the matter is there are 'multiple authorities that are exploiting" the state and it's people for the last 20 years and more. The real issue is "impunity" to a large extent for corruption, exploitation and extortion.

Obviously, one argument is that the Govt of India should also be blamed for the growing lawlessness.

"In the name of ceasefire normal law and order was allowed to cease," says a senior leader on the condition of anonymity. Many agree but they also prefer to keep the conversations 'off the record'.

I need not speak much on already muddled issues more. But the Modi government will do well to realise that the status quo it had endorsed is really dangerous.

This is a time therefore to seriously examine what are the real hurdles and elements that are virtually destroying the very 'fibre of governance'.

Kuldip Nayar was also candid and he had sought to touch the raw nerve of the people -- of both, those in the government and those 'governed'. He wrote -- still the Nagas "remain very religious".

"Every village has a church and every church a priest. But the preachings have made no dent on corruption or infighting".

ends

Centre sets Up panel of Secretaries To fast-track Infra projects in northern borders

The central government has set-up a Committee of Secretaries to fast-track infrastructure projects in the form of roads, tunnels and bridges along the northern borders with China.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, March 14.

The meeting reviewed the progress in the construction of various infrastructure projects on the northern border areas.

This comes at a time when there is almost three-year-long issues in eastern Ladakh.“All pending projects should be expedited on top priority,” Singh said, stressing the need for adopting the “whole of nation” approach in matters of national security.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Democracy might be a cherished ... and highly appreciated political doctrine ... but Singapore is an example that Good Leadership and hard work often counts 'better'

This comes at a time when there is almost three-year-long issues in eastern Ladakh.
“All pending projects should be expedited on top priority,” Singh said, stressing the need for adopting the “whole of nation” approach in matters of national security.