Develop southeast Asia sea as friendly zone: RSS leader

NEW DELHI: A senior RSS leader today said India should develop southeast Asia sea zone as a "friendly zone" keeping in view possible threat perception and demanded a change in names of some Andaman and Nicobar islands, which are named after "atrocious" British officers.

"India doesn't face threat in Arabian Sea. But in Bay of Bengal, there are powerful countries which are always up to something...like China and US which have installations in this region.

"Hence, we have demanded that Andaman and Nicobar Islands be considered as a sensitive zone from security point of view and safeguard it and India should strive to develop the southeast Asia sea zone as a friendly zone," Indresh Kumar said.

Kumar made the remarks during a briefing organised by Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS) here.

Naming Port Blair and Viper islands, he said that between 18 to 20 islands in Andaman and Nicobar are christened after British officers "who had unleashed immense atrocities" on Indians and therefore, their names should be done away with.

"It is not a tribute to name the island after those who inflicted immense atrocities on our ancestors. Hence, these names should go. We have asked the administration to figure out what were the old names of islands and then the movement can be taken forward," the leader said.

Kumar also insisted Cellular and Viper jails in the islands, used by Britishers to exile political prisoners, be converted into memorials to teach people what is "nationalism and patriotism".

On border security issues, Kumar said the government must ensure that no human trafficking, drugs or fake currency is allowed in the region and made a pitch for setting up a commission to develop border areas.

He also criticised the policy apparently followed by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru that "if you won't fight with anyone, no one will fight with you" saying it "doesn't survive in the world".

While pursuing the policy, border areas were kept underdeveloped so that intruders would find it inconvenient to make inroads, Kumar added.

"The strategy was changed a bit after attack from China. The present government has given more momentum to the change. There is need to provide facilities like education, healthcare, roads, water, electricity. A commission needs to be formed to safeguard and develop our borders," he said.

Kumar said the forum has already submitted a memorandum to Centre in this regard and added that it will also approach border state governments over the issue.