Mamit: Expressing his grief over the ethnic conflict in Manipur, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday called upon the warring Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities to sit together for a “heart-to-heart” talk and resolve their differences to avert a similar crisis in the future.
“Violence is no solution to any problem. What we need is heart-to-heart conversation. I appeal to both the communities to sit together and end the trust deficit,” he said.
Singh was speaking at an election campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Mizoram’s Mamit district. Lalrinliana Sailo, a former legislator of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), is contesting from Mamit as a BJP candidate. Singh said Sailo joined the BJP as he wanted to bring development to the state.
The state goes to polls for its 40-seat assembly on 7 November and counting of votes will be held 3 December. The BJP is contesting on 23 seats.
Singh said the Northeastern states play a crucial role in the country’s security as they share borders with our neighbours. There are many unsung heroes from the region, he said.
He also said that the MNF has not achieved much during its five-year rule. Singh added that the Congress government at the Centre had bombarded Mizoram back in 1966. He was referring to airstrikes in the wake of an uprising by the MNF to establish a sovereign state. “The people of Mizoram were facing severe hardships, but they are now peaceful under the BJP-led government at the Centre,” he said.
The state has seen many developments in terms of sports and infrastructure, he added.
Singh said the Northeastern states were neglected when the Congress led the central government but under the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, 17 airports have been constructed in the region while 23 more will be built soon.
In addition, the central government has allocated funds for road construction in Mizoram, and plans are in place to build a railway line that will connect Aizawl to Saisihchhuah in the state and up to Paletwa in Myanmar .
Singh also said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs 326.7 crore has been signed with the World Bank for the development of the health sector in Mizoram, and added that while two Northeastern states have hosted the Durand Cup for football during the NDA regime, Mizoram will also host it if the BJP was voted to power in the state.
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