Militancy will be unable to resurface in Meghalaya so long as there is a continued focus on youth, education for all and employment opportunities, cabinet minister Rakkam A Sangma has said.
Sangma’s constituency of Rongara Siju is on the border with Bangladesh, making it a major corridor for militants to cross over to and from the neighbouring country.
Referring to recent reports of the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army’s resurfacing, he said, “It is a rumour as all those guys have been arrested. As of now I think there is no such thing on the ground because of technology and communication. People are happy with the functioning of the government. At these times, who will go to the forest and do all this nonsense (being a militant)?”
He stressed that bringing up the standard of education, infrastructure and development is the need of the hour.
“We have to change the mindset of the people. When people are not happy with the government or their parents they always resort to such things,” Sangma said, adding that militancy used to benefit from backwardness but with Meghalaya developing, it is a path that is becoming less appealing.
