Northeast is a Priceless Jewel of Indian Culture: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the Northeast as a priceless jewel of Indian culture, rich in heritage that enhances the cultural fabric of India. He highlighted the region’s immense potential to attract global attention, especially from a tourism perspective.

The Union Home Minister said this while addressing the North-East Students’ and Youth Parliament organised by Student Experience in Inter-State Living (SEIL) in New Delhi as the chief guest today.

Shah acknowledged that despite its many unique qualities, the Northeast fell behind in development due to a time when insurgency and separatism were fuelled by creating various illusions and disputes. He pointed out that violence, bandhs, drugs, blockades, and regionalism fragmented the region, causing a divide not only between the Northeast and the rest of the country but also among the states within the region. As a result, the Northeast faced a 40-year delay in development, with terrorism and separatist groups being the primary obstacles during this period.

The Union Home Minister said that whenever his party came to power, it always prioritized the Northeast. He mentioned that previously, there was no separate ministry for such a large and underdeveloped region, but it was established during the government led by Atal ji. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeast has become a focus of every programme of the Central Government. Shah emphasized that the greatest achievement of the Modi government is reducing the distance between the Northeast and the rest of India. He announced that by 2027, all state capitals in the Northeast will be connected by rail, air, and road networks. He added that Prime Minister Modi not only enhanced physical connectivity between the Northeast and the rest of India but also worked to bridge the emotional divide. Shah highlighted that the Modi government kept the Northeast at the heart of every plan, engaging in discussions with insurgent groups one by one, understanding their concerns, and working to bring them into the mainstream through agreements.

Shah stated that the development of any region is not possible without peace, as peace is a fundamental precondition for progress. He emphasized that the Modi government has focused on establishing peace in the Northeast. Shah highlighted the significant benefits the Northeast has gained from space technology under the Modi government, with around 110 schemes being implemented through the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC). He further mentioned that for flood management in the Northeast, satellite mapping and topography have been used to plan the construction of more than 300 lakes in the region, which will ensure permanent flood management in the coming days.

Union Home Minister also lauded the Students’ Experience in Inter-State Living (SEIL) for its role in emotionally connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country. He highlighted that today, over 4,000 families across the country are hosting children from the Northeast, engaging with them through SEIL, which he described as having unmatched strength. Shah credited Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for creating a sense of organizational dedication, which has allowed initiatives like SEIL to continue successfully for so many years.

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