Bonding with Japan
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 04, 2014 -

In yet another promise of 'Achhe Din' for the people living in the Northeastern part of the country since the BJP-led NDA Government came into power at the Centre in May this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just returned from Japan after sealing pact with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe for strengthening co-operation on improving connectivity and socio-economic development in the Northeastern States of India.

Apart from signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Export-Import Bank of India and Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) for enhancing collaboration in infrastructure development between India and neighbouring counties and promote cross border business activities, Japan has also assured to conduct a survey by its Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to identify possible areas for co-operation in taking up various development projects including road connectivity, forest resource development and water supply projects in the Northeastern States.

So, the just concluded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-day long trip to Japan is not just a watershed in New Delhi's effort towards cementing the 'Fevicol Bond' with the Asia's new democratic axis by co-opting Tokyo as an important partner in India's development and a collaborator on mutual security, but also for the people living in a region which China's as often described as the 'most neglected' part of India – that is the Northeast.

When we talk about Japanese aid for development, Northeast India including Manipur is not a total stranger to such Japanese gesture. How the Japanese Government funded Manipur Sericulture Project was taken up in Manipur (and, of course, what has become of that ambitious project today, is altogether another story) and the ongoing feasibility study on a project to be taken up with potential Yen-loan for improving the water supply mechanism in Imphal city are already well-known.

So, the eagerness of Japan to help Manipur or for that matter any other Northeastern States should not be much of a surprise to anyone even if most of the Japan-funded projects taken up that were in the past did not live up to the expectation of the people partly from our own inefficiency but mostly from the bureaucratic hurdles and red-tapism of those sitting on the hot seats at New Delhi.

So, what was really interesting this time in New Delhi's eagerness and choice of partner for a 'mazboot jod', which is even more stronger than that of Fevicol, was that wherever he went and opened his mouth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it a point to convey his message of 'no red tape, only red carpet' to the Japanese investors and businesses.

Another interesting point that could not be missed in the choice of Japan for partnership in various areas including 'maritime security, freedom of navigation, over-flight, civil aviation safety, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with International law' was the fear of growing Chinese influence in the Northeast.

This was visible not just in every pact that had been inked but also on the smiling countenance of a Prime Minister who visited schools to teach Indian music to the students, played with kids in the park, prayed in the monastery and readily agreed to pose for selfies with locals and tourists alike.