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| Wednesday, 26 May 2004 |
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India has offered to engage in reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the North-East. Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Nirupam Sen said yesterday Indian firms were seeking contracts to help rebuild North-East areas affected by the conflict. "If we are welcome there, we will be happy to carry out reconstruction in North-East areas including uncleared areas," Sen told a ceremony at the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo to present 12 musical instruments to the Society for the Development of Traditional Arts, Nallur, Jaffna. The High Commissioner said Indian public and private sector companies could get involved in reconstruction and rehabilitation in the affected areas. He said the Indian Government would restrict itself to rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the Government controlled areas of North-East. However, Sen said he did not expect direct Government engagement with the LTTE. "There is no question of the Indian Government's engagement with the LTTE, said Sen adding that the Indian public and private companies could go into the "uncleared areas" if they were welcome. He said a section of the English press also tended to tout conspiracy theories when it came to India, but these aberrations could be corrected through dialogue. The LTTE was banned in India after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. For example, there was a story about Indian participation in the rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the North-East being part of an effort to economically dominate the North-East. It was also stated that Indian teachers who were to serve the upcountry could be Indian intelligence agents. Such writings would not help the development of harmonious relations, Sen said. "We are now handing over musical instruments to the Centre for the Development of Traditional Arts in Nallur in Jaffna. I hope no one will interpret this to mean that India is going to call the tune in Sri Lanka!," Sen said amidst laughter. He said such interpretations existed because of a lack of "Chintan and Manan" or clarity of thought and mind. He "respectfully submitted" that the Tamil media cultivate clarity of thought and mind and rid itself of pre-conceived notions and prejudices in the interest of harmonious relations. The High Commissioner said the India-Sri Lankan Foundation, which gifted the musical instruments and promoted other ventures in the field of art, culture and academics, was waiting for project proposals from Sri Lankans. "We want the foundation to be demand-driven," he said and appealed to the Sri Lankan press to spread this message. |
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