In the backdrop of the 56th plenary session of the North Eastern Council at Agartala, the following are excerpts of an interview with Mr. Manik Sarkar Chief Minister of Tripura held in his office chamber.

Eastern Panorama: What was the priority of this 56th Plenary Session of the NEC?

Manik Sarkar: We were there to discuss the budgetary provision for Rs. 1200 crore to accelerate development in the Northeastern states but we were allotted only Rs. 624 crore. In this meeting all the states expressed their dissatisfaction as this is too meager a fund. We have asked the Chairman of North Eastern Council Mani Shankar Aiyar to talk to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister to enhance the allocation to at least Rs. 1000 crore. Money is so limited that developmental works can not be undertaken.

EP: Do you think that the Look East Policy has taken off in earnest?

MS: The Look East Policy is monitored by the DoNER minister and was created way back in 1992. This was done to accelerate infrastructural development in the region and play a role in border trade with the rest of the South Asian countries. Since NE region is in close proximity with the South East Asian countries and there is commonality in their cultural, heredity, food habits, there is tremendous possibility for the development of trade and commerce. The South East Asian countries shall benefit including us. However, we need to have rapid development of infrastructure without which it would be extremely difficult to take off.

EP: But then do we have the air connectivity for such trade and commerce to flourish?

MS: Air connectivity is not the only priority. We should also have road connectivity, including rail and waterways too. As of now, we have only one highway. We have approached the Central government to convert it into an expressway. They have accepted the proposal but we can not say when this will be completed. Most of the Northeastern states do not even have railway connections except Assam. In the past when I raised the demand for railways in Tripura I was put behind bars on three different occasions. These were politically motivated and I do not want to take names. But now railways are coming up gradually. However, I am not talking of Tripura alone but for the entire region. It is only when the other states in the region develop that Tripura too can develop. In fact, we can not develop in isolation. We must all develop together with a holistic approach.

EP: Do you think that with the implementation of the Look East Policy, the North East could be used as a dumping ground where other players could play a dominant role?

MS: No, definitely not. Not when we have enough entrepreneurs in the North East itself. The first thing is to develop infrastructure and the most important component is communication. Roads, railways, air, waterways and telecommunication including power generation are absolutely vital. And where power in concerned we have enough potential but we are not harnessing it to the maximum. We are also endowed with tremendous natural and mineral resources as well as human resources but it is not taking off to the desired level. The literacy rate in the region is far ahead of the national index. Mizoram is almost 94 per cent literate whereas Tripura has 85 percent literacy. Discussions alone will not solve the problems. We must aggressively implement the projects at hand and help from the Government of India is very much needed.

EP: Tripura also has its share of insurgency with the All Tripura Tiger Force and National Liberation Force of Tripura, how can the demands raised by them be solved?

MS: Everything boils down to a holistic approach. These groups are still raising some ideological and political questions. We are trying to do away with all these negative things. Political questions should be answered squarely. There is no compromise. They are demanding an independent Tripura of an independent North East? This is not possible. We may have some problems with the government of India but the country is ours. How can you subscribe to the idea of cessation from the mainland of the country? Yet the basic reason for insurgency is underdevelopment. The hill areas are bereft of any development. No electricity, no schools, no health care facilities, no hospitals and not even good irrigation facilities. In fact nothing is there. Mind you all these were during the time of the rule of the Maharaja and subsequent governments that came to power thereafter. It was only in 1978 when the Left Front government that came to power took the political initiative along with development. The hill people are now realizing that there is a government who is doing something for them. We cannot fulfill all their aspirations but they must come to us for a dialogue. And even if they are not interested to talk to us and instead want to negotiate with the Government of India, we shall help them in this regard too.

And then we have a porous border. The camps of the insurgents are located in Bangladesh, not in Tripura and it is very easy for them to sneak into Bangladesh after committing a crime here in Tripura. Border fencing has been completed up to 640 kms out of 856 kms. We are also raising our own security force and this force, combined with the personnel already in active service will strengthen the overall security in the state.

EP: Apart from the ATTF and the NLFT Tripura is also beset with the problems of the Reangs. How are you going to solve this problem?

MS: Reangs are very much Indians and we are providing them with food and shelter as they come away from Mizoram. Earlier their population was about 10,000 but now it has increased to 34,000. The health care and their children’s education are looked after and our administration is fully involved with them. I am in no position to throw them out as they are Indians. Comparatively, when the Liberation war in Bangladesh was going on, the number of refugees that entered far surpassed the population of Tripura. They said India is our friendly country and Tripura is our relative. And as far as the Reang problem goes, Mizoram has to play a positive role as it is their internal problem. They have some political demands though.