Sontosh Mohan sees ‘India
Shining’ in the down-trodden
DANFES
ELECTED
from the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency — always the
target of BJP, Minister for the Heavy Industries in the
Manmohan Singh Government,
Santosh Mohan Dev, no doubt faced the toughest of
the electoral challenges in a political career that spread
over several elections over the past decades when he
almost won the elections since 1980. He agreed that the
challenge this time was indeed tough with Mulayam Singh’s
Samajwadi Party, CPM and others taking was indeed
substantial chunk if his votes and even some within his
own party sabotaging his election. Even then he won by
about 22,000 votes.
In an
exclusive interview with The DayAfter editor Sunil
Dang, Santosh Mohan said that the mater was discussed in
the Congress committee and some of his detractors were
still trying to raise dust by trying their worst to get
him removed from the ministerial office by carrying out a
whispering campaign.
On the
outset he made it clear that he was a disciplined soldier
of his party and whatever decision the High Command took,
he would faithfully implement. Since he had got a ministry
which was not of much direct applicational benefit to the
North East, he would try to do as mush as possible within
his limitation. But he pointed to other parameters of hope
for the North East. He pointed out that the Prime Minister
himself was a representative from the North East and he
hoped that he would do justice to this region.
Replying a question that with as many as 34 PSUs under his
ministry, did he feel they were viable and what did he
plan to do about them? , he said that a committee of joint
secretaries had been formed to take a look at the PSUs. He
felt that those which were viable must be made stronger
and the rest could be considered for being sold. He wanted
this to be ensured that minimum trouble was suffered by
the employees of these public sector companies.
When
asked what kind of programme he visualised to direct the
talent of the youth and harness its potentials to serve
North East, Santosh Mohan pointed out that there was
separate ministry for that purpose — the Ministry for the
North Eastern Region with its department called DONER
under a full-fledged Cabinet Minister. To this ministry 10
per cent of the future allocation of each ministry would
be allotted. He said DONER would take care of the problem
of employment of youth and various problems of development
in the North Eastern region.
On the
controversial issue of “local” and “outsider” appointment
in the ministry, he felt it was unfortunate. In his
opinion, anyone staying in
India should be considered local.
Replying to another query of Dang about the special
package for Seven Sisters, the Minister said the
representatives from North East had met the Prime Minister
and submitted a memorandum on various problems of the
region. He has promised to look into the matter.
Asked
about the potential of some of the beautiful spots of
North East and lack of their exploration as major tourism
destinations, Santosh Mohan said that there were
opportunities but the problem was how to harness them. If
people gave Rs 10 to North East, they expected more in
return. You must have an open mind as the ruler in the
country in giving money.
In his
message to The DayAfter readers,
Santosh Mohan Dev said, “The DayAfter
readers should think of tomorrow and not the day after.
Tomorrow should be a rising day, a shining day.
India should begin to shine now. We have seen that
the BJP failed to show us Shining
India. We should be able to show now that the
Shining
India comes when the down-trodden and the middle
class people in the country are headed for a march over
the high-ups and industrialists”.
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