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Home Ministry assures violence free atmosphere in northeast region

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ANI New Delhi

The Union Home Ministry is working towards bringing various insurgent outfits to the negotiating table and has assured a violence free atmosphere in the northeast.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has hinted at holding talks with various insurgent outfits based in the Northeast to maintain peace in the region.

Speaking at the launch of a magazine "First Word" in the capital, the minister said he has been meeting various groups, including the tribal people from the Northeast, to listen to their voice.

He called on them to unite and join the democratic process to maintain peace in the region.

 

"I have told all the people who indulge in the militant activities that I am here to listen to you but if you think that weapons is the main to achieve anything then it is mistaken. It cannot be. India cannot be undermined. We can achieve our goal only through democratic mean and it is not to undermine that talk is going with militant issue .We are concentrating on how to deal with the security issue and the various insurgent operating in the northeast," said Rijiju.

Rijiju, who himself hails from Arunachal Pradesh, said he will work to bridge the gap between northeast and the mainland.

"Everybody talks about North East being far away from mainland India, and many people say it is difficult to reach Northeast but I will say that India is not only Delhi. In fact the country starts from its international border region and north East is right there. India begins from the Northeast, which is part of Southeast Asia that one could see India as starting from the Northeast," he added.

The launch issue of the magazine carries a story titled "Al Qaeda begins hiring in Northeast", which highlight the threat of misleading youth from the region joining the al Qaeda militant outfit.

Joint Secretary, Northeast, in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shambhu Singh termed it a serious threat to peace in the region, and asked the state government to be awake on the issue.

"I have been asking the state government to investigate, but they have not given me any conclusive report as yet. It is a very good story and I congratulate the magazine for this," he said.

The Northeastern states in the country have been facing prolonged insurgency resulting in the lack of development.

The government is working tirelessly to bring misled youth back to the mainstream and ensure that the region prospers.

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First Published: Jul 18 2014 | 2:23 PM IST

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