'The contribution of the Northeast in developing the country is important', Home Minister Amit Shah said- 'The government is committed to peace'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the contribution of the Northeast region will be the most important in the creation of a developed India. While addressing the Northeast Student and Youth Parliament organized by 'Student Experience in Inter-State Living' (SEIL), Home Minister Shah also said that the Narendra Modi government is fully committed to the development, unity, and peace of the Northeast.

Amit Shah said that the Northeast is very close to the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India. He said the contribution of the Northeast will be the most important in the creation of a developed India. The Home Minister also mentioned the immense potential of this region.

The Home Minister praised the youth of the Northeast.

He also praised the youth of the Northeast who have the highest intellectual capacity in India and said that this region is the land of some of the most hardworking tribes. Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the Northeast is a state full of diversity, where there are more than 220 tribal groups, 160 tribes, 200 dialects and languages, 50 unique festivals and more than 30 world famous dance styles.

Why Northeast lagged in development?

The Home Minister admitted that despite having many distinctive features, the Northeast lagged behind in development because of insurgency and separatism fuelled through various disputes. Violence, shutdowns, drugs, blockades and regionalism have fragmented the region, creating divisions not only between the Northeast and the rest of the country, but also among states within the region.

Due to this, the region suffered 40 years of delay in development. During this period, terrorism and separatist groups were the main obstacles.The Home Minister said that whenever the BJP has come to power, it has always given priority to the Northeast. Earlier there was no separate ministry for such a large and underdeveloped region (Northeast region), but it was established during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government.

The biggest achievement is to reduce the distance between the Northeast and the rest of India.

The Home Minister said that the biggest achievement of the Modi government is to reduce the distance between the region and the rest of India. Shah announced that by 2027, the capitals of all the states of the Northeast will be connected by rail, air, and road networks. Prime Minister Modi has not only increased connectivity between the Northeast and the rest of India but has also bridged the emotional divide.

He said that the Modi government has kept this region at the center of every plan. Discussed with the militant groups one by one, understood their concerns, and worked to bring them into the mainstream through agreements. Between 2004 and 2014, there were 11 thousand incidents of violence in this region, while from 2014 to 2024 it decreased by about 70 percent to 3,428. There has been a 70 percent reduction in the death of security forces and 89 percent in the death of civilians.

Over 10,500 militants surrender their weapons.

Home Minister Shah said the Modi government has signed agreements with all militant groups, as a result of which over 10,500 militants have surrendered their weapons and joined the mainstream. 12 important agreements have been signed with militant groups in the last 10 years. Under the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' initiative, the government has respected and preserved the languages, dialects, cultures, costumes, traditional dances, and arts of the Northeast.

Amit Shah said that since India's independence, all Prime Ministers have made only 21 visits to the Northeast (except Assam), while Narendra Modi alone has made 78 visits.

According to ANI, Shah said a semiconductor plant worth Rs 2,700 crore is being set up in Assam, along with an investment of Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the Northeast. He assured that in the next 10 years, no youth from the region would need to go elsewhere for work as employment opportunities would be available within the Northeast itself.