Funds going into militants' hands: Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 3. Expressing concern over the diversion of Government funds to underground organisations in the north-east, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, today asked the seven States in the region to be cautious and remove all hurdles in the path of development.

Inaugurating the 45th meeting of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) here, the Minister said ``I am sad to note that in some places Governmental funds find their way to underground organisations. Corruption and improper usage of funds thwarts development, leading to unemployment and frustration. These in turn are exploited by extremist groups to create violent and disturbed conditions. This vicious cycle has prevented any worthwhile private investment in the north-east.''

Mr. Advani reminded the Governors and the Chief Ministers that recent developments in the region had shown that some people saw the ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity in the north-east as a source of discord and division. ``Experience of the past 50 years has shown that the security, welfare and development of every State and every ethnic community in the region is inseparably linked to the security of the entire north- east. Attempts to carve out a separate path for progress are doomed to fail.'' Advocating a four-pronged strategy to deal with the north-east, Mr. Advani said the foremost task was to strengthen the traditions and institutions of democracy in the States and ensure people's participation in security and developmental activities.

``Unfortunately, electoral politics in some States has often tended to become volatile and unstable, leading to splits, defection, short-lived Governments and all-round disappointment.''

The recent developments in Manipur had shown that the game of manufacturing majorities through undemocratic means would not only create chaos but would also imperil national security.

Mr. Advani favoured a firm and uncompromising approach to tackle divisive forces. Extremist groups should realise that violence would not pay and would cost them dearly, he said.

The third component of Mr. Advani's strategy referred to the international linkages of extremist violence in the north- east and illegal infiltration of Bangladeshis. ``This is a serious matter.

Apart from threatening to change the demographic balance along the border, it also poses a grave challenge to India's unity and integrity in the long term. The growing activities of the ISI are also in some ways linked to this phenomenon,'' he said.

He called for accelerated implementation of development projects in the region, saying the main reason for the spread and survival of extremism was the lack of development and job opportunities for the youth.

It was necessary to look at the north-east as a single economic unit, he said, and favoured an integrated approach for development, given the small size and resource base of the States in the region.

`Peace, need of the hour'

Justifying the Centre's peace offensive in the north-east, Mr. Advani said it stemmed from the conviction that ``peace is the greatest need of the hour in the region.''

On the Naga peace talks, he admitted that there was a temporary setback but the Nagas, who had been fighting for years, were talking with the Centre today. ``It is true that some misgivings had cropped up about the nature of the ceasefire agreement between the Government and the NSCN(I-M) for bringing lasting peace to Nagaland. These misgivings led to unrest in neighbouring Manipur. The situation has now eased with the Union Government emphatically dispelling all concerns that the peace initiative in Nagaland was at the cost of the territorial integrity of other States in the region.''

The meeting, chaired by the Assam Governor, Lt. Gen. (retd.) S. K. Sinha, also chairman, NEC, was attended, among others, by the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. K. C. Pant, and the Disinvestment Minister, Mr. Arun Shourie, who also heads the new Department for Development of the North-East.

Mr. Sinha sought more Central funds for the region, claiming that the Ninth Plan allocation was too low, while Mr. Pant said all- round development of the region was not possible without economic integration. And Mr. Shourie said the region had enormous potential for development.

The chairman of the North-Eastern Council and Assam Governor, Lt. Gen. (retd.) S. K. Sinha, addressing the NEC meeting in New Delhi on Monday. The Minister of Disinvestment, Mr. Arun Shourie, the Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. K. C. Pant, are also present. - Photo: Anu Pushkarna

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