It was quite disgusting when a participant failed to answer a simple question put up by Bollywood megastar and the anchor of the show Amitabh Bachchan who asked her to tell where Kohima is situated during the Eighth Edition of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
On this question, the woman participant goes for an audience poll. Mr Bachchan asks her as to why she has opted for this for such a simple question as he tells her that life line is the last option which a participant opts for. He further says that he is perplexed to know that why she couldn’t answer it at her own when she is from the same State. Her answer was poignant that everyone knows but how many agrees?
It is astonishing to note that when a person from the North–East region of the country is on his way to Delhi, is generally heard saying that he is going to India. But why does he say so? It generally happens that some of us take him to be Chinese while few others consider him as a Nepalese. If we think upon it, we are compelled to ask as to why a person from that region is put forth such a harsh question. Why they are treated in such a way. Don’t they have an identity of their own
even after 67 years of India’s Independence?
It is perplexing as to why we behave in such a way with a person from that region of the country where rays of the Sun happens to fall first. It is due to this reason that people of that part of the country have started demanding separate status for themselves today/
It is remarkable to note that the gap of male –female ratio in this part of the country is increasing at a fast pace. Unwanted people from the neighbouring countries are crossing the border surreptitiously in the name of seeking refuge in these states. Apart from this, countries like China and Bangladesh are increasing their nefarious activities in these regions. It is a fact which is very much in the knowledge of the top leadership of the country who like most of the participants of KBC don’t know exactly whether Arunachal is a part of the country or not.
It is astonishing to note that interests of people from the region who have made their presence felt by keeping their lives at risk while safeguarding the borders of the country has been overlooked for such a long time. This is a question which requires an answer pertinently. It was BJP which when came to power has made an effort in aligning the people of the region into the mainstream of the country when under the Narendra Modi government a North –East Cell was formed during the tenure of Nitin Gadkari as the BJP president.
This cell is working in the direction of aligning those people of the region who feel themselves alienated due to racial segregation.
Working in this direction, Kiren Rijiju who comes from Arunachal has been made Minister of State for Home Affairs. In addition to this, General (Retd) VK Singh who happens to be from Haryana has been given the MoS (Independent Charge) of North East Affairs. It is really a historical decision. The starting of Arun Prabha Channel for the people is a commendable approach in this direction. The NDA Government has allotted 100 crore for laying Railway lines in the region which clearly manifests how much this government is giving attention to the region. Not only this, an additional sum of Rs. 100 crore has been earmarked for upgrading sports in remote areas of Manipur.
Our Prime Minister has shown his diplomatic wisdom by making a trip to Bhutan and then to Brazil. His recent visit to neighbouring Nepal displays how much importance he intends to give even to this small neighbour. -Atul Tare?
