Modi projected NE as country's 'growth engine', says Assam CM

Taking a dig at the Congress while addressing an election meeting in Delhi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal blamed the party for its neglect towards the Northeast and praised Modi for having projected the region as the country's new growth engine.

New Delhi: Hitting out at the Congress for having neglected the Northeast, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognised the region as the country's growth engine, unlike the Congress regime.

"Modi recognised the region as the country's new growth engine. He projected Northeast as the Ashta Lakshmi of the country, and highlighted how the region can lead the country towards development and prosperity," said Sonowal while addressing an election meeting in Delhi.

He added, "Earlier, Northeast was only recognised for the insurgency, thereby discouraging investment in the region from big private players. But, Modi turned things around for the region through his schemes and measures."

Batting for the saffron party in the national capital and taking a dig at the Congress, Sonowal said, "During the last 70 years of its rule, Congress has not done anything for the country as well as for the Northeast. They believe in corruption only.”