Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said there would be 'zero tolerance' towards militancy and violence while addressing a public gathering at Khonsa, the headquarters of troubled Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday.
The home minister was there to review the security scenario of insurgency-affected Tirap and Changlang districts, which were declared 'disturbed area' under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1991 due to the presence of Naga rebels and other militants groups in the area.
"The Government of India has adopted zero tolerance policy to militancy. Any insurgent group willing to hold talks with the government, is welcomed provided they shun violence and anti-social activities," Chidambaram said.
Referring to lack of development in those bordering district, Chidambaram said, "Money is not the constraint, but the issue is how you spend the money," and called for close vigilance by people and administration.
Chidambaram asked the Arunachal Pradesh government to chalk out a special development plan for the two districts, which would infrastructural development besides the law and order issues. He also laid a wreath at the memorial of martyrs of 1962 war at Khonsa.
Earlier in the day, Chidambaram visited the picturesque monastery town of Tawang close to the India-China border.
Arriving at Tawang this morning, he said, "This is my maiden visit to your place. It is beautiful and it has been rightly quoted by many as the hidden paradise on earth."
He visited the Tawang Monastery, the local craft centre and the multi-specialty hospital that was inaugurated by Dalai Lama during his visit in November last year.