Govt. should find early solution to Naga imbroglio: J.J. Singh

Outgoing Arunachal Pradesh Governor and former chief of army staff, General (retired) J.J. Singh, has once again asked the Centre to find an early solution to end the Naga imbroglio.

Interacting with media before calling curtains on his five-and-half-year-long stint as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, General (retired) Singh said: "peace is linked to prosperity", and reiterated his view that only an iron fist for insurgents and a velvet glove for civilians' policy would ensure that peace prevails and attempts by any forces inimical to national security would be thwarted.

It was a reiteration of what General Singh has been advocating from the day he bcame governor, and particularly emphasised during his first official visit to Khonsa, the headquarters of the insurgency infested Tirap District, on February 1 and 2, 2008.

Pointing out that insurgency is going out of fashion, the former army chief opined that the surrendered policy has not been implemented effectively, and admitted that the people of Tirap, Changlang and Longding Districts were caught in intermittent turf wars between both NSCN factions.

He said there was a need for the government to announce a viable surrender package to motivate NSCN cadres and Maoists to rejoin the national mainstream.

Singh said that he considered himself lucky to become a governor of a sensitive state like Arunachal Pradesh, especially during its historical phase of development.

"It was a challenging assignment, particularly peace, stability and law and order. Maintaining security of the frontier state and law and order problem was my greatest challenge, and I'm happy that by and large, there was no problem with the neighbouring nations," he said.

He said the bandh culture was contained and divisive forces were not allowed to take deep root to blackmail, extort, kidnap innocent Arunachalees.

Commenting on the numerous development initiatives, the governor attributed the achievements to the seamless relations between the Raj Bhawan and the Chief Minister's Office.

Responding to a specific question from ANI as to what motivated him to coin 'Team Arunachal' adage, he attributed his success in life, including as army chief to team work, but said that as Governor he found many sincere and hardworking people in Arunachal with individualistic approaches.

'Team Arunachal' bounded one and all right from young to old in one thread as a symbol unity in diversified Arunachal to spread the message 'We are together', he said.

Singh, who frequented every part of the land-locked state, made a special mention of his pet Poma bamboo project near the state capital where 50 to 60 families are earning their livelihood.

Singh has been replaced by Lt. Gen. (retired) Nirbhay Sharma, who is likely to take oath on May 28.