The Hindustan Times says: Militants of the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland continued their killing spree on Tuesday, taking the number of 'outsiders' they are gunning down to 23.
The terrorists pulled out Hindi-speakers and killed them in cold blood in what was an absolute act of cowardice. They didn't even spare a crippled man. I have been to Assam and other parts of the northeast of India. These states have spectacular nature, good weather and a friendly and liberal populace but almost no development. The best areas of Guwahati are dirtier than most Indian cities and while you don't see "slums" there, the poverty is visible.
Most of the problems in the northeast have been caused by the politicians but the role played by the defense and para-military shouldn't be overlooked. I remember how aggressive some army men were with locals at the ancient Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. These people were off duty but insisted on jumping queue and even threatened local pilgrims.
If India really wants to integrate its economy with the ASEAN region, a real "healing-touch" is required in the northeast, where many feel like second-class Indian citizens. While looking east, India needs to sort out the mess that is its own east.
Mizoram: A stable region in a tumultuous neighbourhood
Just for the record there are stable areas in the northeast like Mizoram, where there is no insurgency or anti-India sentiment. The state, which has a lot of autonomy, has an adult literacy rate of around 90 percent and virtually no poverty.
This is the same state that revolted against India and drove out the Indian Army, leading the Indian Air Force to bomb the state's capital Aizawl in 1966. The point I am trying to make is that no situation is beyond repair.
This is the same state that revolted against India and drove out the Indian Army, leading the Indian Air Force to bomb the state's capital Aizawl in 1966. The point I am trying to make is that no situation is beyond repair.
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