3. It has earlier been stated that the sat in the north-west has finessed a serious down turn in the past 50 years lt would therefore. be useful to examine some accusations as also counter - accusations related to this down turn.

(a) According to the central Governments - army included, the State Governments, the Civil, its rampant corruption - misutilization of funds as "the mess created by the Civil'' are the main reasons for the spread of insurgencies and lawlessness - resulting in dental of economic development, consequent denial of employment opportunities resulting frustration in the mends of youth ending up in a feeling that there was no advantage in being apart of India. But if corruption- maladministration, abandoning of responsibility by the politicians and the "civil" the Army being required to clean up the mess were to be the reasons-there were prolonged spells of PR in these Sates (32 times till 1995) - lasting for years - no political meddling honest administrational- no misutilisation of funds, then all insurgencies would have vanished But the fact remains that each insurgency has a different motivating force.Similarly. almost all states barring Nagaland were quiet for almost 20 years after Independence accepting Indian democracy? Then what happened that prompted groups in these Sates to take up arms? Independent opinion in the North-East - volunteered in confidence. blames Delhi for the neglect of this Region - for its imperialistic style of functioning - step-motherly treatment - resulting in denial of econ development consequent unemployment - ending up in proliferation of the ranks of the undergrounds. Is this a valid argument?

(b) Many in Delhi, on the basis of personal experience assert that the North-Easterners. exceptions notwithstanding, do not feel to be a part of India. The North-Easterners perennially complain of being treated as foreigners in our cities.

(c) It is generally acknowledged, that Independence and the creation of East Pakistan did result in snapping of vital road and rail links from and to this Region, ending in. an explainable development differential of about 25 years visa-vis other Sates. However. there can be no explanation for North-East remaining. noticeably, 40 years behind.

4. My personal experience of 20 years in this Region has convinced me that there is a lack of understanding in Delhi of:

(i) The interplay of historical forces both at subterranean and overt levels and therefore. of the deeper nuances of the sit itself;
(ii) Of the aspirations, expectations and now more importantly the fears of the people, and
(iii) Of the activities of foreign Intelligence agencies? neighbouring countries in this Region.

This has resulted in even good decisions/pronouncement turning counter-productive. Reluctance on the part of Central Service officers - unlike their IFAS counterparts - to dig themselves in this Region and work in this areas coupled with hesitation on the part of Central officers to frequently tour this area, over prolonged spells, to rub shoulders with people in general to know what irked them, has complicated decision making giving rise to a set of region experts, (without any depth in their understanding of the area) acquiring ascendancy - who appear determined to simplify problems - no end.

5. Reluctance to meet grievance. at first sign And an irrepressible urge to push problems. under the carpet, till they were ready to explode has also,complicated problems.Even thereafter reactions have just been adhoc. Politicians too have sometimes misutilised the ferments to further own agendas, but after all they are politicians. It would however be wrong to blame politicians for most of the insurgencies, as ls generally made out More politician have lost their lives at the hands of the UGs in this Region. And. finally, excessive reliance on use of force/army has not helped much, On the contrary It has led to weakening of Rule of law - of the Police and judicial set ups - so vital for democracy. states like Assam, Tripura and Manipur used to have effective police set ups till Army was called in for dealing with Insurgencies resulting in marglnalization/ sidelining not only of police but also of Judiciary.

6. Economic amelioration could have become a bulwark. But that too did not take place Poverty, unemployement and hunger stall remain basic Issues.

7. It needs to be realized that North-East is top diverse, too sensitive a mix of religions, ethnicities and races, has a very complicated history, long tradition of internal tensions, fuelled by ethnic and religious differences, which have been exploited, from time to time, by politicians for furthering their own agendas. The area sits on a cultural fracture with people having greater similarities/affinities with regions in the East. The neighbouring countries have either been supportive-providing sanctuaries, or have been or ignoring the presence of - or even instigating our malcontents.Myanmar as a neighbour has never tried to stop the lucrative trade/profession of heroin smuggling and gun running.Presence of Bangladesh's has remained a potential destabilizing factor leading to formation of too many armies and organizations supporting, Bangladeshis and Muslims.Lucrative trade of smuggling from heroin to weapons, has generated in this Region sizable black money. People Involved in these trades are influentail and have aequired a vested interest in violence and conflict foreign agencies too are up to their own games. And our policy planners and officers have neither time nor interest to go into the machinations? manipulations of these groups which are time . consuming.

8. Today the people of this Region
(i) Are fed up with continuing violence and want peace/ development

(ii) Are generally not against the Nation though coercive measures can force them into making a common cause with the undergrounds.

iii) Delhi's failure in being able to identify people/ organizations standing solidly with the Nation has made such people/groups suspect with the undergrounds. To make matters worse, they are also at the receiving end of SF action in some places.

(iv) Politicians are generally not with the UGs as ls generally made out. If taken in confidence they can help in winning the UGs to Governments side.

(v) People have started believing that they are being subjected to different laws/constitution than their counterparts in other States. They would have been happier if Pandit nehrus's assurance given to the Nagas in 1952, that they were being asked to share a Constitution that would give them powers to govern their areas in their own volition without any let or hindrance from outside. was Implemented in letter and spirit.

(vi) A hard core in each of these States. for varying reasons, continues to encourage and work in support of armed struggle.

(vii) Leadership of many of the UG groups, enjoys the support in some cases, are instigated by neighbouring Countries, in some case by the ISI and some foreign counties.

(viii) Lack of understanding of what moves the people of this Region has remained the main drawback ln decision-making with blanked? ad hoc approaches making matters worse.