Congress reconstitutes North East Coordination Committee

In a bid to counter the BJP's North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the Congress on Saturday reconstituted its North East Coordination Committee headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

"Congress President (Sonia Gandhi) and Vice-President (Rahul Gandhi) have reconstituted the North East Coordination Committee," Congress leader Manish Tewari told reporters here.

"A new Committee has been constituted and would be convened by Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya," Tewari said.

Among others who will be a part of the committee are former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

The Congress leader also said that there is the whole "spectre of internal subversion, the repeated destabilisation of elected Congress government notwithstanding, very severe strictures which were passed by none other than the Supreme Court of India".

He also accused the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) of making insidious attempts to try and communally polarise northeastern India.

The Congress party's coordination committee came months after the BJP in July formed the NEDA as part of its 'Congress mukt northeast' move.

Tewari also said there were repeated intrusions by the Chinese into Arunachal Pradesh. In Ladakh, there was another stand-off with the PLA (People's Liberation Army).

Meanwhile, after being nominated to the new Coordination Committee, Sangma said, "India has its own inherent complexities. It is important for leaders who are familiar to deal with the various issues there (northeast)."

"There is no other party apart from the Congress, whose leaders have been able to create great change in northeast India," Sangma said.

Sangma also said that the Congress leaders will look at issues in the northeast, bring leaders on one platform and ensure that they protect the region from "agendas which are detrimental".

"We look forward to serving the people, because our mandate is to carry forward agendas which are in sync with the aspirations of the people," the Meghalaya Chief Minister added.

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki accused the Central government of not releasing funds to the states and said, "There are various issues with the present (central) government, like non-release of funds as per the Finance Commission to the states."

"Many of the major infrastructural development funds have also been curtailed," he alleged.

He also said that instead of strengthening the Look East Policy, the central government was withdrawing all powers and development policies.

"This forum will raise all these issues and take them to the central government," he added.

--IANS

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