New Delhi, Jan 6 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the previous governments in Manipur and accused that they had only indulged in politics, supported armed groups and harassed the public in the name of ransom, kidnapping, drugs trade and bandhs during their regimes.
"Earlier, the governments only indulged in politics round-the-clock. They supported the armed groups and harassed the public in the name of ransom, kidnapping, drugs trade and bandhs during their regimes.
"But the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and the N Biren Singh-led government in Manipur have together introduced the state to 'double engine' development," Shah said, after inaugurating and laying foundation stone of 29 development projects worths Rs 2,450 crore in Manipur through video-conferencing.
In a veiled attack on the previous Congress government in the North Eastern state, the Home Minister said, "The previous government had three Is- instability, insurgency and inequality. We changed the three Is to innovation, infrastructure and integration. Through integration only, the country and North East can become one."
He called upon the three Is formula and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call of 'Ashta Lakshmi' on the ground.
Shah further said that the Centre has opened many dimensions for the development of the entire North East as the Prime Minister regarded the eight states in the region as 'Ashta Lakshmi' of India.
Taking the opportunity, Shah also heaped praise on the Biren Singh-led government for carrying out development in various sectors of the state.
"The biggest achievement of the Biren Singh government is that it has brought stability, peace as well as development in Manipur. In these five years, there has never been any blockade, nor has there been any shutdown, and violence has also been controlled to a great extent. Unless there is stability and peace, development is impossible," a statement issued by the Home Ministry quoted Shah as saying.
On Tuesday, the PM during his visit to Imphal, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects of over Rs 4,800 crore in the state.
He had accused the previous Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of neglecting the north-eastern region, including Manipur.
"Earlier, NE meant 'don't look east', the previous government at the Centre remembered the region only during elections. We brought 'Act East Policy' to give a fillip to the region," the PM had said.
Assembly elections to Manipur are to be held this year.
UNI DS RJ