HT Correspondent
JORHAT, March 9: Asserting that the Northeast’s development is crucial to fulfill the objective of ‘Viksit Bharat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of ignoring the region for decades, even as Modi unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of Ahom general Lachit Borphukan at his burial site in eastern Assam’s Jorhat district.
Speaking at a public gathering in Meleng Meteli Pothar, after inaugurating projects worth Rs 17,500 crore in Assam, the Prime Minister emphasised the significance of Northeast India’s development for realising the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).
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He criticised the previous Congress government, stating that they had neglected the region for decades since Independence.
‘During Congress rule, foundation stones of many development projects were laid, photographs were taken, but after that it was forgotten for years’, Modi said.
It was left to the BJP government to complete many projects that had been started by the Congress, he added.
‘Our government has given special emphasis on infrastructure, health and energy projects for the overall development of the region,’ he said.
The Prime Minister said on Saturday morning he had visited the Kaziranga National Park and its natural beauty and rich biodiversity will always be etched in his memories.
‘The Kaziranga National Park is known for its famed one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, elephants and swamp deers, while it is a paradise for bird watchers’, he said.
He accused the previous Congress government’s ‘insensitive and unplanned conservation strategy’ that led to poaching in the park.
Around 27 rhinos were killed in 2013, but the number of such poaching incidents came down to zero in 2022 due to the NDA government’s policies, he said.
Referring to the unveiling of the ‘Statue of Valour’ of legendary Ahom General Lachit Barphukan earlier at Hollongapar, the PM said this was a ‘tribute to his courage and is a symbol of our government’s recognition of the braveheart’.
Modi, who donned a traditional attire and a headgear, and accompanied by the chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, participated in a traditional Tai Ahom ritual performed on the occasion.
‘Both Virasat and Vikas (heritage and development) is the mantra of our double-engine government and we are committed to the development of the state and North East,’ he said.
Modi said the BJP government has also initiated expansion of the Digboi and Guwahati refineries, which will double the capacities, while the expansion of the Numaligarh refinery would treble its capacity.
He considers the people of the Northeast as his family members and several projects have been initiated for the development of the region,’ he said.
It is indeed a memorable day that 5.5 lakh houses, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), were handed over to families in Assam on a single day whereas ‘earlier during the Congress rule, people did not even get a single house’, he said.
‘It is not that people have only got ownership of a pucca house, but they have got it with a toilet, gas and electricity connections and tap water supply,’ Modi said.
In Assam, 18 lakh people have already got houses in their names with most of them registered in the names of women, he added.
‘It is our effort to make the lives of women better and to empower them further, we have decided to strengthen the self help groups (SHGs)’, he added.
The presence of so many ‘lakhpati baideos’ at the meeting was also an example of how the lives of women have improved during the last ten years, he added.
He said the inauguration and laying of the foundation stone of medical colleges and hospitals in the state will soon make the region a hub for healthcare facilities.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation important projects like the 718km long Barauni-Guwahati Pipeline and a new medical college and hospital at Tinsukia.
He also dedicated to the nation important railway projects worth more than Rs 1,300 crore in Assam and laid the foundation stone of projects under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme including the medical college and hospital at Sivasagar and a Hemato-Lymphoid centre in Guwahati.
He also laid the foundation stone of important projects of oil and gas sector including capacity expansion of Digboi and Guwahati Refineries along with installation of Catalytic Reforming Unit (CRU) and augmentation of Facilities at Betkuchi (Guwahati) Terminal of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
Earlier, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma delivered the welcome address of the function, which was attended by Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Rameshwar Teli and several cabinet colleagues of Sarma amongst others.
Earlier the Prime Minister reached the maidam site on a helicopter from Arunachal Pradesh and after the Jorhat programme he flew from the Jorhat Airport to West Bengal.
About the statue: Veteran sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, a Padma Bhushan awardee, was entrusted with the work of making the statue, which was built at his studio in Ghaziabad in UP.
The Statue of Valour is 84 feet tall, set on a pedestal of 41 feet, making the total height of the figurine 125 feet.
It was unveiled at the Lachit Barphukan Maidam Development Project at Hollongapar near Teok. The area, spread over 16.5 acres, is being developed as a tourist spot, highlighting the history of the region.
The foundation of the statue was laid by former President Ram Nath Kovind in February 2022.
Sutar had crafted the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.
The Statue of Unity, dedicated to Sardar Patel, was inaugurated here by PM Modi on October 31, 2018. It is the world’s tallest statue with a height of 182 metre (597 feet).
The statue of Lachit Borphukan was transported in parts from UP to Assam over the last few months and re-assembled at the site.
The Statue of Valour was installed in the first phase of development at Hollongapar with the work for the second phase also underway.
A gallery showcasing the history of the Ahom dynasty’s 600 years of rule is being built, while another gallery is being set up to feature the contemporary history of the state.
An auditorium with a capacity of 500 people is also being constructed.
The total project cost will be Rs 214 crore, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. (With inputs from PTI)
