Guwahati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the Northeast’s development efforts on behalf of the Centre, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ended the region’s growing estrangement by visiting it 51 times during the previous eight years.
Ahead of the state’s assembly elections, Shah travelled to Tripura to address campaign rallies.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Union Home Minister said, “After PM Modi came to power, we have done a lot of things to change the entire Northeast. The first thing is that there is peace in the Northeast today. There were numerous militant organisations. We have finalised agreements with many such organisations.”
The Home Minister said that around 40,000 families from the Bru and Reang communities had been living in inhumane conditions in Tripura for over 25 years and had only been given permission to move there after the BJP administration took office.
“Agreements were signed with the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) here also. Nearly over 8,000 armed cadres have surrendered their arms and opted to join the mainstream. The northeast was earlier known for blockades, bandhs, bomb explosions and insurgency. Today roads are being built there, a railway network is about to reach all the states and airports have been built in all the states of the region,” he said.
Shah said the BJP government is now building a second airport in Tripura, a state that till now had only one airport.
He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching a number of development initiatives to advance the Northeast.
Shah said, “Prime Minister himself has visited the Northeast 51 times during the last eight years. Since Independence, no prime minister has come here so frequently. It has been made compulsory for at least one union minister to visit the region every 15 days. Besides this, the distribution of free rice has been done since the COVID times. If any region has benefitted the most in terms of percentage of the population, it is the Northeast. PM Modi has provided houses to the poor of the Northeast.”
When asked about the BJP’s chances in the identity-politicized northeastern states, Shah claimed that a false narrative was being created that the area would lose its identity and cultural heritage if the party won power.
“They have known us in these nine years. The media used to spread rumours that if the BJP comes to power, the identity and languages of the northeast would be finished. However, it has been seen that since PM Modi came to power local languages have been strengthened,” Shah said.
The union minister pointed out that primary education had started in local languages as well as education in local dialects, including those of Tripura and others is also being promoted. “In Bodoland also, preliminary education is done in their language,” he said.
Shah claimed that the Northeast’s distinct identity has been enhanced by the BJP government.
Shah emphasised the Center’s initiatives to promote the Northeast’s cultural legacy and said that Delhi has hosted Northeast artists at every single national festival.
“All around the nation, people are accepting them more and more. The most significant accomplishment of the Prime Minister is “Mann ki doori ko samapt kar diya” (put an end to the feeling of alienation between the people of the Northeast and the rest of India). Today’s residents of the Northeast genuinely believe that they are respected across the rest of India and that everyone in India deserves respect “The Union Home Minister made this point.
With reference to neighbouring Nagaland, which is also slated to go to polls this month, Shah said, “… Some people had incited and announced a boycott of elections in Eastern Nagaland. Now the NPO (Naga Public Organisation) has been withdrawn. They have said that they trust PM Modi. This shows that such intimidation will not work.”
On the Naga Peace Accord which is yet to be resolved, the Home Minister said, “What is an accord for? Accord is for putting an end to violence and violence has ended. There is a ceasefire. A discussion on it is in the process.”
Shah also emphasised the BJP administration’s dedication to the tribal community’s welfare.
“The tribal community was facing numerous problems. They wanted true acceptance. For the first time, a person from the tribal community has become President of the country. Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. So many years after Independence, 10 big museums were constructed at the expense of Rs 200 crore to showcase the contribution of tribal freedom fighters and their struggle even prior to 1857. Eklavya Schools will be increased by about 300 per cent. This is a big achievement. The people feel that the government is considering them,” he added.
Shah emphasised that the tribal population now receives advantages from government social programmes without any bias.
“I can say clearly that this did not happen during the Congress rule. Generations got destroyed. Today development has been possible because of peace. Today, children of the tribals receive an education. Since the most number of the poor were from the tribal communities, they benefit the most from it. Water is reaching houses. They have also got gas cylinders. They are getting health insurance cards up to Rs 5 lakh. They are getting free rice. Tribals have also now started to experience development,” the Home Minister said.
He also mentioned that a double-decker bridge being constructed in the Northeast will be regarded as the nation’s engineering masterpiece. Before 2024, Shah claimed, every northeastern state’s capital will be connected to rail and aviation infrastructure.
Voting will take place for the 60 seats up for election in the Tripura Assembly on February 16. Voting will take place for the seats up for election in Meghalaya and Nagaland on February 27. The counting of votes will be held on March 2.