Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi poked fun at the Meghalayan state government claiming that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) led by the state’s chief minister Conrad Sangma had made significant efforts to obstruct the BJP Meghalaya from holding a successful rally at the Alotgre Cricket Stadium which had been the original location for the rally on Friday.
Addressing a gathering at the Cricket Stadium in Tura, PM Modi said, “There are people who tried to hinder the poll rally, but they don’t know that Modi doesn’t require any field or venue to connect with the people of Meghalaya, Modi is in the heart of every citizen of the hill state”.
According to PM Modi, the people of Meghalaya are aware that only the BJP can guide the hill state towards development without of prejudice towards any caste, creed or religion.
“BJP in Meghalaya as government means the state will be free from corruption, extremists’ activities, road blockades etc. On the other hand, BJP in Meghalaya as government means ‘pakka’ houses to poor people, electricity, water at every household, employment to every youths, women safety, more importance to connectivity,” said PM Modi.
The Meghalayan tribal culture, music, and language have all been cultivated and protected by the BJP government.
In his “Mann Ki Baat,” the prime minister also described how he had the chance to speak about Meghalaya’s culture and other little-known facts.
He added that prior to his “Mann Ki Baat” broadcast, other regions of the country were unaware of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
“Earlier, people only knew about the Cherry Blossom festival of Japan, but, after I made elaborate explanation regarding the Cherry Blossom Festival of Meghalaya in my Mann Ki Baat program, people in different parts of the nation were enlightened. Be it flying boat of Meghalaya or cave fish at Jaintia Hills, the place has earned a tag of one of the spectacular tourist destination in the nation,” PM Modi.
PM Modi also spoke about the G20 summit that would take place in Meghalaya.
The Prime Minister accused Congress and other parties of using the northeast as an ATM while criticising the then-Congress-led administration.
“These parties have been siphoning people’s hard-earned money from the state, while the BJP knows the importance of a penny. Thus, the central government transferred money directly to the bank accounts of the poor, farmers and women. All beneficiaries have benefited from different schemes in all BJP ruled states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura. In last 9 years, the central government has almost doubled the average budget allocation for Northeast. But where is the development in Meghalaya? No schools, no hospitals, no roads?” added PM Modi.
According to PM Modi, Meghalaya requires a two-engine government and is demanding a change.
He added that the BJP has the confidence and vision to transform Meghalaya into a prosperous state.
The prime minister added that the federal government had set a record budget for Meghalaya in order to build an airport, a national highway, village roads, a train connection, and water supplies, among other things.
“In last nine years, around ₹5000 crore had been spent in the name of making of National Highways in all the 11 districts of the state. The central government is also eyeing to connect Meghalaya with neighbouring countries as well. The much-needed boost to infrastructure through National Highway 51 to Dalu from Tura, has been showing progress. This will help the Garo hills to connect with the trading centres of states like Assam and neighbouring country Bangladesh,” PM Modi added further.