DIPR
Imphal, April 11,
Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh today inaugurated two days “Bharat – Myanmar Seema Chintan Baithak” at the Conference Hall of Department of Art & Culture at Palace Compound in Imphal. The conference which is being organised by Seemantha Chetana Mancha, Purvottar will look into issues and challenges being faced by India in maintaining a cordial relationship with Myanmar in coming days.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Chief Minister said, Manipur shares a long porous border with Myanmar and there have been many contentious and wide ranging issues between the two neighbours. He said, there has been a paradigm shift in controlling the border areas in both sides for the last many years. Although, many issues like drug trafficking, militancy and infiltration etc. are yet to be discussed and addressed. Shri Joykumar Singh said, lot of differences in terms of border management are being seen in different border areas of the country. As the state shares a difficult terrain with Myanmar, it may not be possible to fence all across the border.If we can maintain a cordial relationship with Myanmar, most of the issues can be solved, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister further said, border roads and better connectivity between villages in the border areas and also infrastructures like schools and hospitals should be provided. He said,besides this, border guarding to check infiltration and other illegal activities should be hand over to a dedicated border force like BSF so that a tight vigil across the border can be made. He urged the people mostly in the border areas of the state to inculcate the sense of nationalism so that a true feeling of patriotism can be developed for a strong and united India.
Chief Secretary Dr. J. Suresh Babu said, there has been no tangible effect of Border Areas Development Programme (BADP) in the North East. He said, Union Government is committed to solve issues like border fencing, boundary demarcation and dispute over shifting of border pillars at the earliest. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in constant touch with Myanmar and it will be sorted out soon. He said, Moreh town has to be developed and connectivity in the border areas has also to be developed.
All India Convenor of Seemanta Chetana Mancha Shri Gopala Krishnan also spoke on the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with Myanmar. Delegates from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and border districts of Manipur participated in the conference.
