Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah took part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the North-East Council (NEC) in Shillong, Meghalaya. Numerous dignitaries, including the Chief Ministers of neighboring North-Eastern states and the Governor of Meghalaya, Brig. (Dr) B. D. Mishra, were present on this occasion.
During the NEC Meet presided over by PM Modi, Shah claimed that in addition to praising the council's work over the previous 50 years, the prime minister also gave instructions for the creation of a blueprint outlining all aspects of the region's development over the following 25 years and the setting of goals.
Today, the Northeast is making progress toward peace and development under the direction of PM Modi, he added.
Shah said that prior to PM Modi becoming the Prime Minister, funds granted to the Northeast did not reach the lowest level, but now that they are reaching villages and being used for development, which is a wonderful accomplishment. He claimed that the Northeast has always received top priority from PM Modi.
In the past eight years, the Prime Minister has traveled to the Northeast more than 50 times, and ministers have done so more than 400 times, he stated.
The Northeast has now emerged as a more convenient tourism destination due to the better infrastructure, which has also led to the opening of numerous new small businesses, educational institutions, and sports-related organizations, he added.
He further said that the proposal to connect the capitals of the North-Eastern States through road, train, and air connectivity has been taken up by the Prime Minister as well.
According to Amit Shah, the agreements with the NLFT in 2019, the Bru and Bodo Agreement in 2020, and the Karbi Agreement in 2021 were reached during the tenure of PM Modi. The border issues between Assam and Meghalaya & Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are also almost resolved, and the North-East area has advanced toward development as a result of the restoration of peace.
The most notable illustration of this is the fact that, in the past, there was a desire for the removal of AFSPA from the Northeast, but that demand no longer exists, instead, the government of India is taking efforts and initiatives to accomplish so, he noted.
"Now, 60 per cent area of Assam, seven districts of Nagaland, 15 police stations in six districts of Manipur and Tripura and Meghalaya have become completely AFSPA free, while in only one district in Arunachal AFSPA is yet to be lifted", he said.
The home minister expressed confidence that the NEC and the chief ministers of the North-Eastern states will work tirelessly to achieve the objectives outlined for the NEC, helping to develop the region and contribute to the creation of a developed, tranquil, and employment-rich Northeast like other regions of the country.
