Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stated that the Congress party has an “inherent habit” of abandoning difficult development projects, causing significant harm to the Northeast region of India. Addressing a rally at the Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, Modi unveiled development initiatives exceeding Rs 5,100 crore.
Modi emphasized the challenges faced by the Northeastern states and asserted that true development cannot be directed solely from Delhi. He highlighted his government’s proactive approach, stating he and his ministers visited the region frequently—more than 70 times—showing a commitment to its growth.
“One inherent habit of Congress is that they never take up development work which is difficult to do; they abandon it. This habit has significantly harmed Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast,” Modi claimed, criticizing the Congress for neglecting the region’s potential.
He noted that in the hilly and forested areas where development efforts face obstacles, Congress would often write off these regions as backward. Modi aimed to contrast this approach with the current government’s dedicated efforts.
At the rally, he also discussed the recent implementation of next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, coinciding with the beginning of Navratri. He described it as a “double bonanza” for the public during the festive season.
“The GST reforms will reduce kitchen budgets and offer significant relief to women,” he added, highlighting the fiscal advantages for households.
Modi criticized the previous Congress-led government for perpetuating high taxes despite rising living costs. He stated, “Congress imposed a heavy tax burden on the people, but our government has gradually reduced taxes, which gives relief to them.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that border villages remained overlooked by successive Congress governments, leading to a troubling trend of migration from these areas.
Similarly, he claimed that the Congress party disregarded Arunachal Pradesh, as evidenced by its minimal representation in the Lok Sabha, which comprises only two seats.
“When I was granted the opportunity to serve the nation in 2014, I made it my mission to free the country from the outdated mindset of Congress. Our vision is clear: ‘nation first’ rather than focusing on vote counts in any state. Our guiding principle is ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’ (the citizen is God),” Modi asserted.
He further expressed his commitment to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, stating, “Modi worships those whom no one has ever asked about. Arunachal Pradesh, which was once neglected during Congress rule, has since 2014 become a centre of developmental priority.”
Modi highlighted the significance of the projects he inaugurated as indicators of the “double benefits” resulting from a “double-engine” government—referring to the coalition between the central government and the state administration.
“In the last ten years, Arunachal received Rs 1 lakh crore from the Centre, which is 16 times more than what it got during Congress rule,” Modi concluded, reinforcing the government’s commitment to uplift the region and its citizens.
