SHILLONG, JULY 9: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said there is a need for a forum to address inter-state internal security related issues including boundary disputes, narcotics and arms traffickings, common approaches for tackling terrorism and militancy for the North Eastern region.
Addressing at the 67th plenary session of the North Eastern Council held in the state capital, Singh pointed out that after creation of the Council under NEC Act, 1971, there is no Zonal Council for North Eastern States.
“Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya which were part of Eastern Zonal Council were deleted from the purview of Eastern Zonal Council. As such, there is no forum to discuss issues such as boundary disputes, drug trafficking, smuggling of arms and ammunition etc, which are the items discussed in the other Zonal Councils,” he said.
Singh stated that while the Ministry of DONER is focusing on its coordination role in development matters, the Ministry of Home Affairs is primarily focused upon the security related issues.
He further suggested that the North Eastern Council can provide a common forum for discussing these issues.
“The NEC, having the Governors and Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States as its members, can provide a common forum for discussing the two aspects in a comprehensive manner in the presence of top functionaries of two Union Ministries,” the Union Home Minister said.
By Our Reporter
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