Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about his government’s Northeast policy and the change witnessed there in detail in an exclusive interview with Assam Tribune. Here are key highlights:

1. Change of policy: PM Modi said that while the Northeast was met with step-motherly treatment by the successive Congress governments, he replaced this policy of isolation and ignorance with a policy of integration.

“In the last 10 years, it is visible how we developed it as Bharat’s gateway to the East. I have visited the Northeast nearly 70 times, which is probably more than the total number of visits made by all the PMs before me,” Modi said.

2. Greatest success story: Claiming that the Northeast has emerged as “new India’s greatest success story”, Modi highlighted quadrupled investments and infrastructure developments in the region.

“We fulfilled long-awaited critical connectivity projects such as Bogibeel Bridge and Bhupen Hazarika Setu that have eased people’s lives… It will provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas,” he said.

3. For youth: “Since 2014, more than Rs 14,000 crore has been spent to promote higher education in the Northeast. The country’s first Sports University has been opened in Manipur,” the PM said.

He highlighted that the government is building more than 200 Khelo India centres across the eight Northeast states and that more than 4,000 startups have emerged from the region in the last decade.

4. Against insurgency: Asserting that his government has significantly controlled insurgency, Modi highlighted that a total of “unprecedented” 11 peace agreements have been signed in the last 10 years.

“More than 9,500 insurgents have surrendered since 2014 and joined the mainstream of the society. Compared to 2014, there has been a 71 per cent reduction in insurgency incidents in 2023,” the PM added.

5. Resolving disputes: Modi emphasised that Border Dispute Settlement Agreements between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and between Assam and Meghalaya were successfully negotiated.

6. Connectivity: The PM said that border villages are now part of the Vibrant Villages Program fulfilling the last-mile connectivity requirement. He also highlighted 5G connectivity even in the remotest corners of the region.

“Many parts of the Northeast are getting connected by rail service for the first time. Meghalaya came on India’s rail network after 67 years of Independence. Nagaland has now got its second railway station after 100 years,” he said.

7. Act East Policy: Emphasising Northeast’s importance to this policy, Modi highlighted that work on major projects like India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project is underway.

8. Arunachal Pradesh integral: On China’s claims on parts of Arunachal Pradesh, PM Modi asserted that there should be no doubt that it is integral part of India.

He highlighted implementation of PM Awas Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission in Arunachal Pradesh, his visit to Itanagar and inauguration of Sela tunnel and Donyi Polo Airport.

9. On Manipur: PM Modi said that best resources and administrative machinery are at work to resolve the conflict and as a result, “there has been a marked improvement in the situation of the state.”

Asserting that it is our collective responsibility to deal with the situation sensitively, Modi said that the Centre has been consistently extending its support and the process of relief and rehabilitation is ongoing.

10. On infiltration from Myanmar: The PM said that India has raised the issue with Myanmar authorities and a number of steps are being taken to prevent infiltration and secure our borders.

He highlighted the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar and increased and effective deployment of Border Guarding Forces on the Indo-Myanmar border.

Modi said that construction of fencing on feasible patches along the Indo-Myanmar Border has started and the Mizoram government is asked to capture of biometric data of illegal migrants in the state.