Itanagar: The Centre was strongly on the path of peace and its endeavour for it and development in the Northeast will not be hampered by insurgent activities, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday.
"Government of India's approach is the same as it was before. We are very strongly on the path of peace and development for the region," Singh said during his brief stop over here.
"There has been an unfortunate sequence of events in the last over one week in the region. But I am here to reassure you and instill confidence in you that as far as Government of India is concerned, our endeavour for peace and mission for development did not get hampered in such incidents," he said.
Singh said it was everybody's stake to accomplish the optimum benefits of the developmental agenda of the Centre. "We must seek to sustain peace in the region and also try to bring around those who are not able to see the virtues of peace and development."
"I reassure you that there is no change as far as the approach in the policies on North East as concerned. The region enjoys a very high priority in the schemes of the present government and it is very high on its agenda," he told reporters at Naharlagun helipad this evening.
The minister said that the Centre had embarked on the development agenda at a very fast pace and track and wherever there is any disruption in the environment of peace and tranquillity, it has an adverse affect on developmental activities.
The minister, in his brief visit to the state held discussions with the state government representatives and NGOs at the helipad itself.
"In the wake of what has happened in the last one week, we were there in Manipur and had detailed interactions with the various sections of the society, administration and also political establishment. We have spent a long time at Nagaland and again here in Arunachal," he said.
Singh said what he found as 'most gratifying' was the intense yearning for peace among the common people.
"The people are tired of insurgency and they want peace ... I think that is the biggest strength in us," he said adding whenever there is any kind of disruption in the environment of peace, common people do not approve of it.
The union minister appealed to the media to join in the effort of the government in ushering in peace and development in the region.
When asked for his comment on NSCN(K)'s attack on the Army in Manipur that claimed 18 lives and others in the recent past, the DoNER minister said he did not want to discuss that matter as it is for the ministry of home affairs and other agencies to take a call on it.
"As far as I am concerned, I would like to appeal that all of us have a stake in peace. Therefore I also wish to brush aside any misgivings and apprehension that may have come up during the last few days in the wake of what happened in the last week," he said.
When asked on the status of inquiry ordered by his ministry on the alleged misutilisation of Rs 900 crore central fund by Arunachal Pradesh government, he said that the ministry had received a complaint.
"Whatever happened as a follow up to this will be let known to you know in due course of time," he said.
Responding to a query on central package for the mountain state in the wake of heavy damage wrought due to recent rains and landslides, Singh said he had a detailed discussion on the issue with the state administration led by Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi on the issue.
The ministry of road transport and highway is already in touch with the state government, he added.
