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SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: I will come to that.

These are the two main changes. One is the inclusion of Sikkim, on which I am sure, all parts of the House will support. Second, the aim is to make it more effective. The original concept was that instead of being an advisory body, it should become a regional planning body.

I commend that the House consider and pass this Bill which has been passed unanimously by the Rajya Sabha.

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM (NAGALAND): Mr. Speaker, Sir, the North-East Council which was formed in 1972 consists of the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur. However, Nagaland at that juncture, was under the administration of the Ministry of External Affairs. It was subsequently brought under the North-East Council, under the direct administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM (NAGALAND): May I just put it to you? We do not contest the competency of Gen. Sinha or any Governor in this matter. What we are trying to say is, by having the chairmanship with the Deputy-Chairman of the Planning Commission, it makes things easier and faster because the time factor is very important for any development in the North-East. That is why we said that the Governor or anybody else should be there. I am not challenging the competency of the Governor. He is very efficient in the best of his ability. So, I think, we should not make a mistake. To make the process smoother and faster, the name of the Deputy-Chairman, Planning Commission has been requested for.

Many Members today mentioned about roads and telecommunications. Shri Sontosh Mohan Dev was also saying this. The Member from Mizoram was just telling us about the importance of roads and linking the district headquarters with the State capital and the difficult terrain. That work is being done under very difficult circumstances today by the Border Roads Organisation. Now, that means that expertise should also be brought into the North-East Council. It will become very difficult indeed.

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM : There is one problem. There is the dream project of the Prime Minister for giving road connectivity to North, South, East and West. It is called the Golden Quadrilateral. Why is this going only up to Silchar and not to all the other States? This should reach all the North-East States. You are only reaching Silchar, and the matter ends there. But they have recognised eight States now. Even Sikkim needs this. Arunachal Pradesh also needs this. Nagaland also needs this. Mizoram also needs this. All these States need this. Manipur also needs this. So, you have not been able to reach all the States. I think you should work out a package.

DR. NITISH SENGUPTA (CONTAI): Vayudoot was supposed to be there. It was proposed by Shri Rajiv Gandhi. But the North-East people used to call it yamdoot.

SHRI K.A. SANGTAM : Actually, Shri Rajiv Gandhi had proposed that. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN : Hon. Minister, please do not give answers to all the interruptions.

 

… (Interruptions)

 

SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: This service would start from the 25th December, 2002.

There are several other points that have been made but I have been directed to conclude. I do feel, we would continue this discussion some other day. I hope that all of us would raise our voice strongly for honest and strong implementation there. Secondly, I hope, all of us would raise our voice against violence. You would see that the kind of attention being paid to the North-East now has never been paid. This particular service that Shri Rajiv Gandhi had conceived of would start on Christmas Day, the 25th December, this year.