Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu today said that there is a need to put down insurgency and to have a dialogue with insurgent groups.
Suggesting that for proper development of northeastern states peace is important, the Vice-President said, “Peace is the prerequisite for progress,” even as he added that he was happy that insurgency is coming to an end.
Naidu was speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the improvement and widening of the Shillong-Dawki section of the National Highway 40 in Shillong.
He said that peace is vital for all round development of the people of the North East in education, health, employment opportunities and connectivity.
“(We) see to it that they give up arms, join the peace process because what is required is the peace which is a prerequisite,” the Vice-President added.
Naidu also said that because of the fear of insurgency, so many things have been obstructed.
“Now it is time that we must utilise this peaceful atmosphere and create a proper ecosystem for the development of the state,” he added.
Naidu also stressed on ‘transparency and accountability’ of those officers responsible for implementation of government programmes.
According to the Vice-President, officers should be transparent so that people should know what is happening and have information about the programmes.
“People who are in charge of these programmes should be held accountable. The contractors, the engineers, the administrators, everybody should be made accountable,” Naidu added.
He also said that there should also be zero tolerance towards corruption, which is the enemy of development.
