Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday criticized the Congress party for its “inherent habit” of abandoning significant development projects that are challenging, stating that such actions have harmed the northeastern states, especially Arunachal Pradesh.
While addressing a rally at the Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, Modi unveiled over Rs 5,100 crore worth of development projects. He highlighted that true progress for the Northeast cannot emerge solely from decisions made in Delhi, hence he prioritized sending ministers and officers to the region more frequently, alongside his personal visits which he noted exceeded 70.
"One inherent habit of Congress is that they never pursue challenging development initiatives; they abandon them instead. This mindset has caused considerable damage to Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast. In our hilly and forested areas, where development work proved difficult, Congress would label these regions as backward and forget them entirely," claimed Modi.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the recent launch of next-generation GST reforms on the first day of Navratri. He asserted that these reforms would bring a “double bonanza” to citizens during the festive season.
"With the initiation of GST ‘Bachat Utsav’, families are set to benefit as these reforms will reduce kitchen budgets, thus providing significant relief to women,” he added.
Modi criticized the previous Congress government for consistently increasing taxes despite rising living costs, stating, "Congress imposed a heavy tax burden on the people, but our government has gradually reduced taxes, offering financial relief."
He further remarked on the neglect of border villages by successive Congress administrations, which he claimed led to increased migration from the area. Highlighting another aspect of Congress’s oversight, Modi noted the political disinterest in Arunachal Pradesh due to its limited Lok Sabha representation.
"When I took office in 2014, I pledged to liberate the nation from the Congress mindset. Our principle is to prioritize the nation over political gains, embracing the mantra ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’ (the citizen is God),” he emphasized.
Modi contrasted his government’s accomplishments with Congress’s track record, stating, "Modi honors those whom no one has acknowledged before. Since 2014, Arunachal Pradesh, once ignored, has emerged as a focal point of developmental priorities."
He concluded by showcasing the unveiled projects as an example of the “double benefits” stemming from a “double-engine” government approach. "Arunachal received Rs 1 lakh crore from the Centre in the past ten years, which is 16 times more than what it garnered during Congress’s rule,” he elaborated.
