Development of NE vital for India: Rajth

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, Feb 20: Criticising the previous regime at the Centre for neglecting the Northeast for years, Union Home Minister Rajth Singh on Monday said development of the region is essential for economic and strategic development of India.

Facing inclement weather, the Home Minister landed at Raj Bhawan helipad here this morning from Guwahati accompanied by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and BJP tiol secretary Ram Madhab.

Addressing the gathering at Indira Gandhi Park here, Singh, while terming the Northeastern region as a sacred place, expressed resentment that even after several decades of independence, no care was taken of the region, one of the richest in the country.

“In 2001, the NDA government under Prime Minister AB Vajpayee created the DoNER as an independent ministry especially for North East states after which the region got a new momentum in terms of development,” he said.

He said Prime Minister rendra Modi had rechristened the ‘Look East’ policy as ‘Act East’ policy to fast track development in the region after years of negligence.

Asserting that the Centre is keen for the development of Aruchal Pradesh, the frontier state being strategically located and sharing three intertiol borders with Chi, Bhutan and Myanmar, the Home Minister assured full support for the State’s all-round development.

Referring to the border dispute between India and Chi, Singh said that relations between the neighbors have improved as both the Asian giants are currently doing bilateral trade worth 70 billion dollars.

“Aruchal Pradesh is in its full youth, and interestingly its chief minister is also the youngest in the country, with the vision and will to lead the State to the zenith of development,” Singh commented. The Home Minister also lauded Chief Minister Pema Khandu for his focus on holistic development of the frontier State.