IMPHAL, June 12 � �The Union Government is there to stand for the region through thick and thin� and the society should be confident that the government at the Centre is there to ensure peace and development in the NE region.
This was stated by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr Jitendra Singh while addressing a press conference at the Old Secretariat here last evening.
�The Central Government is there to ensure that such an incident doesn�t happen again in future�, said the Union Minister while referring to the June 4 ambush and subsequent search operation by the Army in Chandel district of Manipur bordering Myanmar.
The Minister, who is also the ex-officio Chairperson of North Eastern Council, informed that his visit to the State is to reassure the people of the State and region that the development of the region is very high on the agenda of the present government at the Centre.
He said, �We are here to commit ourselves to contribute whatever we can to ensure peace and tranquility in the State which will be compatible with the optimum growth in the region.�
However, regarding post-ambush covert operations, the Union Minister said that the security forces from Indian side will have to react with an objective to restore peace and tranquility to discourage the elements that tend to disturb peace.
The Minister asserted that such incidents would not be allowed to hamper development and focus by Central Government for the region. He said that the development of the North East, �Act East Policy� and �Make in Manipur� will continue and �no interference or decline in development agenda� will be hampered by such incidents.
PTI adds: Singh has come here on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stock of situation two days after the army�s retaliatory strike in Myanmar that neutralised insurgents believed to be behind the ambush.
Referring to the army�s cross border strike on Tuesday, Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister�s Office, said such actions are resorted to in order to check elements which tend to disturb peace.
Singh made a courtesy call to 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.
Later in the day, Singh held a joint meeting with different political and social groups and representatives of civil society, in which he said the message should go out loud and clear to everybody 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 development, a press release issued by the Minister�s office said.
