Violence levels in northeast lowest in many years: PM
February 1st, 2011 - 4:14 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) The highlight of 2010 was the change in the situation in the northeast with violence at it lowest level in many years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday and stressed that the government would respond to any group that desired genuine peace.”The highlight of the last year has been the change in the situation in the northeast. The trend of declining violence and casualties continued in 2010, and I have been told that violence is at its lowest levels in many years,” Manmohan Singh said at the chief ministers’ internal security conference here.
“I have repeatedly stated that the Indian constitution is a remarkably flexible instrument, capable of accommodating a diverse range of aspirations. What is essential, however, is a genuine desire for peace and a willingness to abjure the path of violence,” he said.
Pointing out that the government was committed to respond to the demands of any groups that gave up armed struggle, the prime minister said there had been fruitful engagement with several groups in 2010 and the government would continue to deepen the process of engagement this year.
Home Minister P.Chidambaram, who spoke just before the prime minister, also said there had been a dramatic change in the situation in the northeast.
“2010 witnessed the lowest level of violence in many years. Barring Assam and Manipur, the other states have shown remarkable improvement. No civilian was killed in Nagaland or Mizoram. No security personnel was killed in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland or Mizoram,” he said.
Noting that nine insurgent groups were in talks with the government or were poised to commence talks, Chidambaram said, “The time has come to change our perceptions or the insurgent groups”.
“So long as they are willing to talk and reach honourable and just settlements, we must treat their leaders honourably and fairly; we must give their cadres an opportunity to return to the mainstream or society and start new lives; and we must prepare the people for reconciliation.”
The home minister said the government hoped to be able to conclude agreements with some of the groups in the near future.
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- Empowered councils way forward in northeast: Chidambaram - Feb 09, 2011
- Most of northeast is conflict-free: Chidambaram - Jan 06, 2012
- Maoism, terrorism, fundamentalism serious challenges: PM (Lead) - Feb 01, 2011
- Centre's initiative for peace working in Northeast - Mar 01, 2011
- Peace talks with North East rebel leaders 'good': Pillai - Mar 06, 2011
- Chidambaram to review law and order in Tripura, Mizoram - May 16, 2011
- Strengten border security: Mizoram, Tripura governors - Oct 31, 2011
- Manmohan arrives in Myanmar: First Indian PM to visit in 25 years (Second Lead) - May 27, 2012
- Operations will continue till rebels shun arms: Chidambaram - May 26, 2010
- PM opens security meet, flags left-wing extremism (Lead) - Apr 16, 2012
- Reduced militancy providing relief to North East people - Apr 11, 2010
- Govt. wishes "an honourable negotiated settlement" from talks with NSCN (IM) team - Mar 03, 2010
- Surrounded by insurgency, Mizoram keeps its peace - Aug 18, 2010
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