SHILLONG, OCT 21: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said restoration of trade and commercial links with the neighbouring countries of the eastern region is of prime importance for Meghalaya.
“Fresh infrastructure to restore connectivity with the rest of the country is still not fully in place,” Sangma said while pointing that the North East is yet to fully recover from the ill-effects of partition in terms of dislocation of trade and commercial ties, disruption of access to nearby markets, break-down in connectivity.
Sangma said these during the vote of thanks he was delivering at the special session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly which was addressed by the President Pranab Mukherjee on his two-day maiden visit to the state on Monday.
According to Sangma, while Meghalaya has moved ahead, the rest of the country has moved ahead much faster. He said therer are studies to show that the per capita income of Meghalaya , was higher than the national average at the time of independence. “But today we are lagging behind the national average,” he said adding that this can be attributed largely to the impact of partition, though there are many other factors as well which are well within the knowledge of our.
Sangma further informed the assembly, “Inter-regional and intra-regional connectivity remains a major constraint even now,” adding “As a result, the huge potential in tourism, horticulture, floriculture etc. has remained untapped as yet.”
“Therefore, restoration of trade and commercial links with the neighbouring countries of the eastern region is of prime importance for Meghalaya. And investments in infrastructure and connectivity acquire the foremost priority,” Sangma said.
Mukherjee’s maiden visit to the state was however greeted with the 36-hours bandh called by the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
Stating that while the state celebrate and rejoice in the president’s visit to this beautiful state, Sangma expressed regrets saying, “It is unfortunate that because of the bandh call given by a proscribed unlawful outfit, the people have been prevented from participating in it in a befitting manner.”
Saangma, however, said, it is also very encouraging that some enlightened civil society groups have come out openly defying the call and organised a public rally and a music concert welcoming the visit of the president. He informed, “This outfit (HNLC) had given a similar call earlier to boycott the elections to the Legislative Assembly. The public gave a resounding rebuff by turning out in record numbers, with polling percentage as high as 86 in the Khasi & Jaintia Hills region.”
Sangma also informed that the state had witnessed a similar response from the public of Garo Hills region when another outfit had given a call for an extended bandh there some time ago. According to him, this gives the state government hope that with the active support of a vigilant public, it shall be able to neutralize these outfits, which are causing immense harm to the interests of the people and the image of the state and promised to invest its effort, energy and resources wholeheartedly on promoting peace and prosperity for all.
Sangma also said that the President’s visit is a testimony of his love and affection to the people of the state and region as a whole and his oncern in shaping a secured future for the youths and the future generation.- By Our Reporter
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