Northeast Desk, 22nd September: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju revisited a longstanding issue concerning the Northeast’s position in India’s national consciousness during his address at the North East Students Festival. He shared his experience as a newly elected MP in 2004, recalling how many in Parliament were unaware of the names or capitals of the eight northeastern states or the region’s diverse communities.
Rijiju highlighted the disconnect that once existed between the Northeast and the rest of India, with northeastern people often feeling like outsiders in cities like Delhi. He noted that the region was perceived as distant and different by those living in other parts of the country. However, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” initiative, launched in 2014, which he said played a crucial role in unifying the nation and bringing the Northeast into focus.
Under this initiative, Rijiju emphasized that the Northeast is no longer neglected but is being actively integrated into India’s socio-economic and cultural framework. The region, he said, is now seen as a vital part of the nation’s development and progress.