AGARTALA: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed the Northeast from a “no-hope” zone to an attractive destination in the past 12 years.
Addressing the ‘Jan Kalyan Shivir’ to mark PM Modi’s 12 years in office at Rabindra Bhavan, the Union minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways said the northeast was known for violence, kidnapping, blockade and shooting before Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.
“A sense of security was missing before 2014, and the Northeast was infamously tagged as a disturbed area. Now, the region is witnessing a sea change in all-round growth with peace returning. At least 10,000 armed insurgents have shunned the path of violence to usher in peace,” he said.
Asserting that PM Modi has transformed the northeast from a “no-hope zone to an attractive destination”, he said peace has paved the way for faster development in the region to meet the people’s aspirations.
“Under PM Modi, development works—whether infrastructure, railway connectivity or communication—are proceeding at the highest ever speed. Modiji has made it mandatory for his cabinet colleagues to regularly visit the northeast to expedite development,” he said.
Sonowal also claimed that PM Modi removed the distance between Delhi and the northeast by boosting connectivity and communication.
He said Modi ji is the only Prime Minister since independence who pushed for financial inclusion drive across the nation, resulting in the opening of 61 crore bank accounts.
“Due to the success of the financial inclusion drive, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is possible to transfer money to the accounts of crores of beneficiaries. This ensures transparency and accountability of the Modi government,” he said.
“Tripura has been receiving the benefit of the double-engine government during the past 8 years. The connectivity – be it railway or airway, the state witnessed a massive change. The state is now well connected with first-class train service and air service, accelerating the development process,” he stated.
PTI