Centre working on connecting Northeast with mainstream India — JP Nadda

Our Correspondent
Wokha, Sep. 15 (EMN): The National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) JP Nadda on Thursday said that the Central government is observing the Northeast region and formulating strategies to connect it with the mainstream India in terms of infrastructure and economic development.

Maintaining that the country cannot progress without developing Northeast, he said through the Act East Policy, various programmes like road and rail connections have been taken up.

Nadda was speaking at Old Riphyim village, Tuyi Mandal in Wokha district, the home constituency of Deputy Chief Minister and BJP legislature party leader Y Patton.

Stating that “massive development” is taking place in the Northeast, he said the political and economic demands of the people of Bodoland Territorial Region have been solved, safeguarding the culture, traditions and language of the people, while another milestone has taken place under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Karbi Anglong agreement, he said.

Nadda opined that at one point of time, Northeast was under a “dark era facing insurgency”, but today, it is a “peaceful and prosperous insurgency-free” region. He also said that the Centre is “taking care” of the Naga political issue, and BJP Nagaland president Temjen Imna Along and Patton are part of the negotiations.

Speaking at the rally attended by the supporters and party workers of BJP Nagaland, he said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been removed from 66% of the Northeast including Nagaland.

He said that various integrated Ayush schemes for construction of hospitals have been implemented, while four integrated Ayush hospitals will be developed in Kiphire, Mokokchung, Dimapur and Wokha; and one college will be established in Longleng at a cost of INR 70 crore.

He highlighted projects related to education, sports, and healthcare that have been sanctioned and launched within the span of eight years for the state of Nagaland.

He also called on the party workers and supporters of BJP Nagaland to remain resolute in making the lotus bloom in the upcoming election.

Nadda said that Modi has taken up various developmental programmes, including the National Tribal Institute. Out of 27 tribal institutions set up in India, 49% are known as Centres of Excellence, he said, adding that scholarships and schemes for tribals have increased.

He said India was able to fight the pandemic by producing two indigenous vaccines and vaccinating more than 130 crore people, making the citizens of the nation safe, strong and self-reliant.

He said India also sent medical aid to around 100 countries, out of which 50 were provided vaccines free of cost as support.

Nadda further said that the agriculture budget has increased fivefold with the budget towards the sector in 2014 was INR 27,000 crore, compared to INR 1, 30,000 crore now.

The amount is disbursed in 11 installments to 11 crore farmers through direct benefit transfer. The arm export of India has grown sixfold, from 1,500 crore to 8,400 crore. In international exports, India has increased by 17%, he said.

Short speeches were also shared by Imna Along and Patton, welcoming Nadda on his maiden visit to the state and meeting the party workers and supporters , while assuring to strengthen the developmental activities in the state to take Nagaland and the people forward.