'Look East Policy' only 'paper tiger': Koijam

Shillong, May 5 (UNI) The North-East Nationalist Congress Party Coordination Committee (NENCPCC) today urged the Centre not to make NE just a route to the South East Asian countries but also to turn this landlocked region into a major commercial centre.

''We are not interested in being only a route to South East Asia,'' newly elected Chairman of the NENCCC, Radhabinod Koijam said.

Talking to reporters, along with his party leader Purno A Sangma after a day-long NENCPCC meeting here today, the former Manipur Chief Minister said that they would force the Congress-led UPA government to provide 8.6 million jobs and ameliorate the condition of 5.6 million people below poverty line under the Bamboo Mission programme.

Mr Koijam alleged that the 'Look East Policy' remained as yet only a 'paper tiger' and India should learn how China had developed the once backward Yunan Province.

''India can do the same to NE by identifying potentials and developing infrastructures and by establishing various institutions,'' he asserted.

Stating that NE has abundance of resources, human as well as natural, Mr Koijam added that the economy of the region was still dormant and gloomy and employment avenues untapped.

''The Centre, along with the NE governments should create an atmosphere of peace and stability in the region by finding permanent solution to insurgency and sense of alienation,'' Mr Koijam stated.

He added that without economic vibrancy and employment avenues, NE would always be a hot spot for insurgency and dissatisfaction against national integrity.

UNI