Previous govts adopted 'step-motherly attitude' towards Assam, NE: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at a rally in Silapathar, Assam said that previous governments in Assam have always adopted a step-motherly attitude towards Assam and other northeast states, stalling development in the region. He also said that the National Education Policy (NEP) would benefit the tribal population in Assam.

Silapathar:Highlighting the developments works undertaken by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments at New Delhi and Dispur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the previous governments in Assam have always adopted a step-motherly attitude towards Assam and northeast. He also added "the previous governments have stalled the growth of the region with immense potential."

Prime Minister made the statement during his address at Silapathar in Dhemaji district of Assam. This is Modi's third visit to poll-bound Assam within a month.

He is in the State on a day-long visit to inaugurate five projects, which includes, the inauguration of Dhemaji Engineering College, foundation stone laying ceremony of Sualkuchi Engineering College, dedicating INDMAX Unit at Indian Oil’s Bongaigaon Refinery, the inauguration of secondary tank farm of the Oil India Limited at Madhubani in Dibrugarh and the Gas compression station at Makum.

"During my last visit, I said that the northeast is becoming the new growth engine of India and these major projects which are dedicated to the nation today indicates that whatever I said is becoming a reality," said PM Modi.

Lauding the BJP government's measures, Modi said only half of the population in the country had LPG connections before 2014. "In Assam, it was only 40 per cent of the population who had access to LPG connections. We have given free LPG connections to everyone and now almost 100 per cent of the population in Assam have connections," he said.

He said this year the Union Budget has earmarked 1 crore free LPG connections under the Ujjala scheme and this would benefit the "mothers and sisters" in remote areas of the state.

"Most of the 18,000 villages which did not have electricity connections in the country are from Assam and northeast. However, we have given electricity connections to almost all the households in the country," he said.

He added the gas pipelines and optical fibres which are being laid all over the country would bring about a lot of change in the country. He also said the NEP would benefit the tribal people of the northeastern States. "It would enable tribals in the region to learn in their own mother tongue," he said.

"We have amended the existing farm bills to ensure that farmers' produce reaches international markets," he said. Modi also appreciated the Assam government for giving land-deeds to small tea growers who had contributed towards the economy of the country and hoped that it would boost the morale of the small tea growers.

He said that time has come now to empower the "double engine" of growth for more development in the region.