NEDA to bring N-E closer to mainland: Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed optimism over the newly formed North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), saying it will bring the region closer to mainland India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance.

“North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) will play an important role in attaching North-East to mainland India. NEDA’s contribution will be written in golden letters in changing the history of N-E,” he said at the first conclave of the alliance here.

The foundation of NEDA is a history in itself as it was set up with the formation of the new government in Assam, he said. “Although the BJP is the largest party in the country at present, but the importance of the other smaller regional parties, which NEDA comprises, is always equal to the largest party. So, BJP’s importance in NEDA is never above the regional parties,” Shah said.

The BJP chief said the region is full of potential with rich natural resources, which can attract tourists in huge numbers. “But even after 68 years of Independence, North-East is not developed, while many areas in India have developed. Problems such as infiltration, insurgency and the Centre not giving enough attention are to be blamed for this,” Shah said.

He added that the Modi government was giving top priority to the region and issued instruction that at least one union minister visited the region in every 15 days.

Assam Finance Minister and NEDA Convener Himanta Biswa Sarma said the organisation would play crucial role in having a Congress-free northeast. “In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, there will be no Congress MP from northeast. All 25 MPs from the region will be from NEDA,” he said.