Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 24
The BJP ST Morcha (North East) Co-ordination Committee has expressed happiness that for the first time in the history of Assam politics, a tribal has been installed as the chief minister of the biggest state in the North East Region.
Addressing a press conference Friday evening, the co-ordination committee members said the victory of the BJP party in the recently concluded Assam Assembly election and subsequent formation of the BJP-led government headed by tribal leader Sarbananda Sonowal as chief minister was all due to the effort and support of the people.
“We are confident that the BJP-led government in Assam led by a tribal chief minister will definitely look into various problems faced by tribal communities in Assam,” said national vice president, BJP ST Morcha, in-charge North East, Johnny Rengma.
Johnny said for decades, tribal communities in Assam and rest of NE had not only been deprived of their due share of economic and other developments but also bearing the brunt of insurgency and militant activities.
BJP MLA from 18 Howraghat A/C (Karbi Anglong district), Joyram Engleng, who is also president ST Morcha, Assam State unit, expressed confidence that the tribal conflicts in Karbi Anglong, would vanish under the new BJP-led government.
Joyram, a former Congress leader, alleged that ethnic conflicts and tribal clashes in the district were the outcome of “divide and rule” policy of the successive Congress government.
“The BJP ST Morcha (North East) Co-ordination Committee assures the tribal communities living in Assam that the BJP will restore the peaceful co-existence among the various tribal communities living in the state,” Johnny added.
Johnny said the BJP was keen to bring development in the NE and reminded that it was under the then NDA Government headed by Prime Minister, AB Vajpayee, that the telecom company BSNL in NE was bifurcated and NE Circle II was created with its headquarters in Dimapur to cater to the states of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
He also informed that the ST Morcha (NE) has already appealed to the Centre to create a separate Circle for Postal Services for the three states.
“Similarly, we have urged the Government of India to open BPOs (call centres) in all NE states to provide employment avenues to our educated unemployed youths,” the national vice president BJP ST Morcha said.
He also called upon the youth to take opportunity of the FM channels to be launched in major towns of NE states. Johnny further appealed to the tribal communities, especially the youth, not to be misled by anti-social elements but come forward to develop NE Region and contribute to a “glorious India.”
Meanwhile, the ST Morcha (NE) has condemned the harassment meted out to public leaders and citizens by some underground groups.
