Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stated that governments at the Centre in the past neglected the Northeast and divided people for political gains, but the region is now becoming the gateway of the country's growth due to the importance given by the "double engine" government at present.
"The governments in the past used to look towards Manipur and the Northeast only before elections. Their policy was not to look after the Northeast. But after coming to power in New Delhi, we took the pledge of Act East policy. I said that our eastern region can become the gateway of the country's growth. New airports are being constructed, railway lines are being laid and new highways are being opened to give a fillip to transportation and communication.
"The Jiribam-Imphal rail lines will connect Manipur with the country's railway network. The Imphal-Moreh Asian Highway will connect the Northeast with the South East Asian nations and strengthen the country's connectivity with those countries. Today, the Northeast is becoming the gateway of country's growth," Modi said at Manipur capital Imphal soon after launching several projects.
Modi inaugurated and laid foundation of several projects worth Rs. 4,800 crores in Manipur and Tripura. The two states are heading for Assembly elections.
In Manipur, Modi virtually inaugurated a bridge over the Barak river on NH-37, dedicated 2,387 mobile towers built at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore, a water transmission system for Thoubal Multi Purpose project, besides others. The PM laid the foundation stone for construction of a National Highway project worth Rs 1,700 crore, a cancer hospital to be run on PPP mode, a Centre for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training and a few others.
In Tripura, Modi inaugurated a new integrated terminal building of Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport and launched key initiatives: Mukhyamantri Tripura Gram Samriddhi Yojana and Project Mission 100 of Vidyajyoti Schools.
BJP formed its first government in Manipur in 2017 and in Tripura in 2018 with regional allies. This time, the saffron party, however, is eyeing an absolute majority.
Although Modi did not directly talk about the elections, he repeatedly attacked the governments in the past. "They reduced Manipur into a blockade state, created division among people living on the hills and the valley and conspired to divide people for political gains," he said.
"From being a blockade state, Manipur is now becoming part of the country's export growth story. We have carried out campaigns such as Go to Hills and Go to Village to bridge the gap among people. Now there is no sense of insecurity and thousands of youths gave up arms and joined the process to establish peace and development," Modi said.
"It was the power of your vote. I hope people of Manipur will keep faith on the double engine government to carry forward the process of development," he said.
In Tripura, Modi said the state was becoming a hub of trade and transport including with neighbouring Bangladesh and promoting the local products due to aggressive steps taken by the present "double engine" government.