Act East policy will be made a reality: PM

23/02/2018

Kohima, Feb 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed firm resolve that the Act East Policy would be made a reality in order to connect the people of the Northeast with South East Asian countries to foster speedy development.
He emphasised that the development of the Northeast was an essential component to realise the dream of a developed country. Modi underlined improvement in connectivity of the Northeast to achieve the target.
"Transformation of the region by transportation is being worked out to bring about faster development in the region," he said. Modi was addressing a poll rally at Tuensang Town public ground in Nagaland ahead of assembly poll on February 27. He affirmed that the BJP-led NDA government was committed to the transformation of Nagaland.
"The dream of having a new India will go alongside with the vision of the Naga people towards having a new Nagaland," he said.
"Unless Northeast is developed, the dream of having a developed country will not be achieved and therefore BJP government is paying special attention to the requirement of the region," Modi said. He flagged connectivity issue of the Nagaland and said his government was working to overcome the problem.
"Connectivity is a huge challenge in Nagaland. We are working relentlessly towards it. In less than four years, we have added 500 km of national highways. We have also planned to invest more than Rs 10,000 crore in the roads of Nagaland," he said. Modi lauded the efforts of the Naga people towards peace and tranquillity in the region.
He emphasised on checking leakage of developmental fund provided by the Centre and said the loopholes would be plugged with the help of technology.
“With the help of technology, we will plug the loopholes which are causing wastage of public money.”
Apparently referring to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's comment that villages received only 15 paise out of Re 1 from the Centre, he said "with determination, we need to change this situation.”
"Every penny of developmental fund sanctioned by the central government should reach the grass-root level," he said. Dwelling on the prime focus of Naga people solution of vexed Naga political issue, Modi asserted that his government was making all efforts with all seriousness.
He also exuded confidence that within next few months an honourable and acceptable solution would be achieved for which all have to come together.
"Solution of the Naga political problem will strengthen the democracy of the country and therefore we will make all efforts to solve the problem,” he said. Making a reference of the problems faced by the people of eastern Nagaland, Modi asserted that his government was willing to have talks with the organisations of the area to hammer out a solution.
"Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) area is a huge area and therefore we will pay special attention for the area", he said adding the Centre was serious towards the protection of the Naga tradition and culture. Modi also announced that his government will spend around Rs 1,800 crore for making Nagaland's capital Kohima a smart city.
Making a statement in the Nagamese dialect, Modi said, “The BJP-NDPP alliance power teahisekoele development apunilagabostitepunchaidibo". (If BJP-NDPP alliance comes to power we will bring development to your villages).
"We want to provide a stable, inclusive and corruption-free government in the state", the prime minister said while urging Nagas to elect BJP-NDPP candidates to bring about a change in the state.
"I assure you that NDPP-BJP will form a new government in Nagaland. This government along with that at the centre will drive Nagaland forward," he added. The BJP has fielded 20 candidates and its alliance partner the NDPP 40 for the February 27 elections to the 60-member Nagaland assembly.
Meanwhile Modi said today Meghalaya is not safe in the hands of a Congress government, and appealed to the people to give BJP a chance to serve the state.
He said that ruling Congress took the people for granted as it saw no political challenge in the state, according to the official twitter account of BJP.
''Give us a chance to serve the state. We will ensure good governance guided by the philosophy of sabkasaath, sabkavikas (inclusivity),'' he said at an election meeting here.
''I promise you that Meghalaya's BJP government will account for work and every penny being spent,'' he said.
Hitting out at the MukulSangma government, he said ''There is a long list of scams to the credit of the state government and Meghalaya is not safe in the hands of the Congress government.'
He referred to the alleged scam in the recruitment of teachers.
The prime minister said that the Centre had provided around Rs 470 crore for laying 1,100 km of roads in the state under PradhanMantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) but the Meghalaya government was unable to spend even 50 per cent of it.
''We approved construction of 21,000 houses in Meghalaya and provided more than Rs 100 crore to the government. But they were unable to build the required number of houses,'' Modi said.
Noting that his government wants to further strengthen its 'Act East Policy', Modi said it will open up opportunities for people in the state and in the entire Northeast.
He said Rs 10,000 crore will be spent on roads in Meghalaya and improved connectivity will change the face of the state.
''We have planned to spend around Rs 180 crore for building of the new Shillong airport. It will improve the possibilities for industrial development besides generation of employment for common man,'' the prime minister said.
Maintaining that Meghalaya has immense potential for the growth of tourism but lacks visitors, he said, ''No efforts were ever made to strengthen the sector. We will ensure more and more tourists arrive here. This will generate income opportunities for people.''
Taking a dig at Chief Minister MukulSangma, he said though he was a doctor the health care sector is in a bad shape. "Women are forced to deliver babies at home which poses a great threat to the lives of mother and baby," the prime minister said.
The Centre, he said, has introduced 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme which entitles a family to claim Rs 5 lakh every year towards medical exigencies.
Apparently seeking to woo the voters in this Christian majority state, Modi said, ''It was the BJP government which had rescued nurses from Iraq and brought them safe to Kerala. They all were Christians''.

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