NE parliamentarians proposed long-term CMP for development

Agartala, May 11 (UNI) Parliamentarians of Northeastern states have proposed to evolve a long-term Common Minimum Programme(CMP) in the region for peace, development and democracy.

Citing the just concluded 10th North Eastern Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association(NERCPA) conference in Kohima, Tripura Legislative Assembly Speaker and NERCPA President Ramendra Chandra Debnath told UNI today that the conference had initiated the proposal of laying out a CMP for the region.

Stressing the need for closer ties among people of the NE, he advocated frequent exchange programmes for parliamentarians, students, youths and farmers of the region to promote brotherhood.

Mr Debnath also underlined that tourism, arts and crafts, agriculture, floriculture and horticulture, aromatic plants, rural industries and hydro-power were the inherent strength of the region and could benefit the people economically.

He added that the NERCPA conference also passed a resolution to strengthen the border trade points with Bangladesh and Myanmar through the construction of proper highways connecting the important cities of the region with both the countries.

''Unrest among the NE people, especially the youth, had increased, mainly due to unemployment, causing steady growth of insurgency,'' Mr Debnath said, adding that creating employment opportunities and economic development could overcome the menace.

He alleged that the activities of insurgent groups had prevented investment in the region and urged both the state governments and Centre to bring permanent peace.

UNI