Margherita also pointed to the expansion of national waterways in the region, which has improved inland water transport and trade
KRC TIMES Assam Bureau
Guwahati : The Northeast, long viewed as being on the periphery of national development, has been brought into the mainstream of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita said on Friday.
In an interview with The Assam Tribune, Margherita said the Prime Minister had effectively brought the national capital closer to the Northeast through sustained engagement, enhanced connectivity and higher central investment in the region.
Since assuming office, Modi has personally visited Assam more than 70 times, while Union ministers have collectively visited the Northeast over 400 times in the last decade, he said, describing this outreach as unprecedented.
The Union minister said budgetary allocations to the Northeast have increased more than threefold during the present regime, alongside a strong push to improve overall connectivity. He noted that air connectivity in the region has expanded significantly, while all Northeastern states are now connected by rail.
Margherita also pointed to the expansion of national waterways in the region, which has improved inland water transport and trade. Digital connectivity, he said, has seen major improvement, with internet access now reaching even remote areas.
Highlighting cultural recognition, Margherita said the Prime Minister played a key role in granting Assamese the status of a classical language. He also noted that the Centre forwarded a single proposal to UNESCO, leading to the Charaideo Maidams being inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
On security, the Union minister said the law and order situation in the Northeast has improved considerably over the past 10 years. More than 10,000 militants have laid down arms, and several insurgent groups have signed peace agreements with the government, contributing to greater stability in the region.
Margherita further said that under Modi’s leadership, Ahom general Lachit Barphukan was accorded the status of a national hero. He also recalled the Prime Minister’s participation in Bihu and Jhumoir performances in Assam, which went on to set new world records.
“These developments reflect how the Northeast has been integrated with the rest of the country-through connectivity, cultural pride, peace and sustained engagement,” the Union minister said.
