Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday assured that projects to connect all eight capitals of northeastern states would be completed by 2025.
Addressing a public meeting in Mizoram’s Aizawl, Shah said that incidents of violence in the region have come down significantly since 2014 and there is a new era of peace and development.
“There will be rail, road and air connectivity to all eight capitals in northeast by 2025 and projects worth a total of ₹1.76 lakh crores are being undertaken for the same,” the Union minister said.
Shah was on a day-long visit in Mizoram, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of various development projects worth ₹2,415 crore including the new battalion complex of the Assam Rifles.
“Foundation stone of four important road projects valued at around ₹1,200 crore were laid today. When completed, these would lead to increased trade and business not just within Mizoram but also between the state and neighbouring Myanmar,” he said.
Shah appealed to outfits from the region, which are still not engaged in peace talks, to join the democratic mainstream to contribute to northeast and India’s development.
“We have been able to bring peace and improve connectivity in the region in the last nine years and the pace of development in northeast is now like rest of the country. The entire northeast is now progressing in the path of peace, stability and development,” said Shah.
He mentioned over 8,000 cadres of rebel outfits have surrendered in past nine years and there was 67% decrease in incidents of violence in the region in comparison to 2014, 60% decrease in deaths of security personnel and 83% reduction in deaths of civilians in terror-related violence.
“Peace has returned to most of the region due to the peace agreements signed with various outfits. Due to this, there has been nearly 70% reduction in areas termed as ‘disturbed’ under provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act,” Shah said.
Mizoram will go to the polls towards the end of this year. While the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is a partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, the parties are not in alliance in the state.
