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Fernandes promises joint project to tackle militancy in Tripura

A joint strategy to curb militancy in Tripura will be chalked out shortly, Defence Minister George Fernandes said in Agartala.

He said a meeting of top officials from the defence ministry, home ministry and Tripura government would be held in New Delhi soon.

The defence minister arrived in Agartala on a two-day state visit. He held a series of meetings with Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, the council of ministers, senior army and civil officials and the governor.

Militancy in Tripura could not be tackled singularly by the state government or either ministry. The tripartite meet would review the current measures employed and finalise further action.

Asked about former defence minister Mulayam Singh's views that negotiations with militants should not be undertaken if they did not shun violence, Fernandes said talks should be held at the earliest whether militants gave up violence or not.

"During the Vietnam war, the Americans and the Vietnamese held meetings even when the war was on," he said, "It should be always in our mind that the militants are our own children, they should be tackled in a cautious way."

The defence minister cited unemployment and the political unrest of tribals as the major factors fueling militancy in North-East. With the growth in non-tribal population, tribals alienation had increased, he said.

He said the Inter Services Intelligence of Pakistan, involved in subversive activities in the North-East, was fishing in troubled waters.

Elucidating the Centre's efforts to remove the backwardness and poverty of the North-East, Fernandes said massive developmental works were needed. He said a high-power committee headed by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh was monitoring the various schemes and projects being implemented by the Centre.

He promised to apprise the prime minsiter and home minister about the problems of Tripura and the North East.

UNI

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