Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 6
In order to “speed up” the process of “national integration,” a forum under the banner of Seemanta Chetana Mancha, Purvottar (SCMP), has emerged in Nagaland State. Loosely translated to ‘Border Awareness Forum, North East,’ the body seeks to raise awareness on ‘border security, national security and the role of civilians.’
Its Nagaland chapter was launched today at Dimapur’s Tourist Lodge in the presence of Dr. Numal Momin, BJP MLA from Bokajan constituency of the Assam Legislative Assembly, as well as Nagaland State BJP workers including Nagaland BJP Convener (Finance, Development) and retired IAS officer HK Khulu.
The SCMP’s mission in the region is to make people living in international border areas aware of their “responsibility” towards securing the borders of the Indian Union by inducing patriotic fervor. “Our borders are being used for anti national and anti social activities,” said Indra Chapagai, Coordinator of SCMP Guwahati, adding that the objective of the organization is to “keep vigilance” at the international border with Burma by instilling “love and link between people and security forces for the sake of integrity, security, unity and development” of border areas.
The forum plans to first set up a state unit, followed by district units, block units and finally village units that will work through state and non-state networks in order to help people access development funds from the government and make sure they are implemented.
“If we want to secure our borders, we need good communication, amenities and facilities to make sure local people do not leave border areas,” said Seemanta Chetana Mancha National Patron, Arun Kumar during the launch today. “There should be no demographic change at the borders and people should be happy,” he maintained.
Enemy of state
Arun Kumar alerted the audience of the dangers lurking beyond borders. He accused Pakistan of waging a “proxy war” in Kashmir and China of “cultivating contradictions” to spread “conventional and unconventional warfare” through the Maoists to a large number of districts spread across the Indian Union. He alleged that Pakistan does not want ‘Bharat’ to be equal to Pakistan and that China is an “unethical nation.”
When a youth pointed out at the launch today that nationalism should not be spread through ideas of violence but peace, Arun Kumar clarified that “nationalism” and “national security” are completely different, and the SCMP deals with the latter. “We should know and understand the weaknesses and strengths of our enemies,” Kumar said, quoting ancient philosopher Chanakya.
China aims to capture the rich water resources of the Himalayas (North and North East India), he claimed, that would endanger India’s access to the same. “To secure our country, we need to be aware of the character of national security. This awareness needs to become a people’s movement,” he reiterated, planning to use the platform of schools and colleges to make that happen. The body seeks to further its cause through “personal contributions” from “devoted and dedicated” people.
“We have to speed up the process of national integration,” he said, adding that SCMP will be the bridge between ‘national integration’ and planning by connecting the government and the people.
Contextual solutions
Dr. Numal Momin underlined that borders cannot be protected without ‘patriotism.’ “We have to dedicate ourselves to patriotism through practical measures,” he said, noting that the SCMP will implement such measures by ways of checking “abnormal activities” (like trafficking) in international border areas. He said the BJP will work with SCMP as a team, hoping that border areas will have access to developments funds, as do Dimapur and Kohima.
Nagaland State BJP leader HK Khulu pointed out that borders drawn from faraway places like Delhi or Shimla in regions like the North East have given rise to unique problems. Thus, border problems here need contextual solutions, which, he hoped, the SCMP will work towards. He highlighted that three International Trade Centres (ITCs) in Nagaland have never been developed and questioned if fencing the borders in the Naga areas where people “live together since time immemorial” is relevant.
A welcome address and introduction of SCMP members was given by T Methna Konyak and the programme ended with recitation of the Indian national anthem.
