Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called out the Congress party for what he described as an “inherent habit” of neglecting difficult development projects, a tendency he asserts has severely afflicted the Northeast region. Modi made these remarks during a rally at the Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, where he initiated development projects valued at over Rs 5,100 crore.
Modi emphasized that genuine development for the Northeast cannot stem solely from Delhi policies. He remarked on his commitment, citing his frequent visits to the region, saying, “I have come here more than 70 times.” Modi aims to demonstrate a significant shift in focus towards the development of Arunachal Pradesh and the surrounding Northeastern states.
Identifying the Congress as a hindrance to progress, he stated, “One inherent habit of Congress is that they never take up development work which is difficult to do; they abandon it.” Modi criticized their approach, explaining how they categorized challenging areas as backward and subsequently neglected them, resulting in adverse consequences for residents.
Further addressing the public, Modi proclaimed the launch of new Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms coinciding with the commencement of Navratri festivities, branding it a “double bonanza” for citizens. He noted, “The GST reforms will reduce kitchen budgets, helping women,” pointing to the positive impact on families across India.
Modi stated the previous Congress government imposed hefty taxes while failing to alleviate the burden as prices escalated. He remarked, “Congress imposed a heavy tax burden on the people, but our government has gradually reduced taxes, giving relief.” In contrast, his administration has focused on fiscal reforms that benefit the common person.
The Prime Minister further declared that border villages received neglect under Congress rule, contributing to an exodus from these regions. Modi pointed out that Arunachal Pradesh, having only two Lok Sabha seats, was often overlooked by the opposition party.
“Upon being entrusted with the task of serving the nation in 2014, I resolved to free the country from the mindset of Congress. Our guiding principle is not the number of votes or seats in any state, but ‘nation first’,” he stated, affirming his government’s dedication to prioritizing citizen welfare.
Modi highlighted his administration’s focus on areas previously ignored, asserting, “Modi worships those whom no one has ever asked about.” The Prime Minister maintains that since 2014, Arunachal Pradesh has shifted from being an area of neglect to a center of developmental priority.
He underscored that the projects unveiled are emblematic of the “double benefits” arising from the ruling “double-engine” government. “In the last 10 years, Arunachal received Rs 1 lakh crore from the Centre, which is 16 times more than what it garnered during Congress rule,” Modi concluded, underscoring his administration’s commitment to uplifting the region.
