‘Separate-nation demand in Northeast likely by 2018’

source:Indian Express

By Pranav Kulkarni Nov 3, 2012

  

In another six years, there could emerge a demand for a separate nation in the Northeast, said Lt Gen (retired) D B Shekatkar at a defence seminar in the city on Thursday.

“India’s eastern and northeastern regions have been subjected to demographic changes as part of a well thought-off plan by some of our neighbours. This is creating undue pressure on the economy, culture and ethnic balance and is bound to have long-term adverse repercussions on internal security, and economic dimensions. In all likelihood, by 2018, there could be a demand for a separate nation in the northeast,” he said addressing a seminar on Defence Preparedness of India viz a viz China and its impact on Asia.

The two-day seminar had many serving and retired officers of the three Armed Services speaking on the subject. The seminar, conceptualised by India Development Council (IDC) to commemorate 50 years of the India-China war of 1962, began with felicitation of Colonel (retired) Tallury Krishnamohan, Lt Gen (retired) V M Patil and some others who took part in the 1962 war.

An exhibition of photographs of the Sino-Indian conflict was unveiled by Lt Gen V A Bhat, Director-General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).

Shekatkar, national convener, IDC, stressed focus on indegenisation. Speaking on the challenges in India’s integrated national security, Shekatkar listed northeastern insurgency, proliferation of nuclear technology in the hands of non-state actors, Naxalism as some major internal threats to India.

“There are 31 terrorist outfits across the globe, all of which are located within a radius of 1,000 nautical miles from India,” he said.

Shekatkar added that Maoists have already gained a foothold in 12 states. “If immediate steps are not taken, we will be faced with a situation demanding intervention and control by the Indian Army. It is reasonable to assume that Naxalites already have links with Northeast insurgents, and ISI agents in Nepal and Bangladesh.”

Air Marshal (retired) Bhushan Gokhale, former Vice Chief of Air Staff, in his lecture focusing on role of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1962 listed lack of intelligence assessment as one of the failures of 1962 operations. “Canberra aircraft were potent weapons, and could have been used effectively (in the 1962 operations),” he said.

Gokhale threw light on the istory of the Indian Air Force and its role in ‘taking the war into the enemy territory’.

He showed videos and photographs of air-to-air refuelling, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to demonstrate IAF capabilities. He also mentioned precision-strike capabilities of the IAF such as by une of Laser Guided Bombs (LGB), used in the Tiger Hill operations.