IMPHAL, Dec 27 - Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that the development of Northeast is one of the top priorities of the Narendra Modi government. Addressing a gathering at Hafta Kangjeibung here, he said Manipur was earlier known for blockades and bandhs, but in the last three years there was no bandh in the State. He lauded Chief Minister N Biren Singh for taking the State on the path of progress.
Recalling various initiatives taken up by the Modi government, he said that Inner Line Permit (ILP) was the biggest gift to the people of Manipur by the Prime Minister. �Modiji realised that Manipur is not having the ILP when other States surrounding it had it, which is an injustice to the indigenous people and he found a way,� Shah said. It was a matter of �great satisfaction for us when Manipur got it (ILP) on December 11, 2019,� he added.
ILP is an official travel document issued by the concerned State government to allow travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. It is obligatory for the citizens from outside those States to obtain a permit for entering the protected State.
The BJP government under Modi has given a new identity to the region which is now experiencing a new thrust in development, Shah said at the inauguration and foundation laying programme of several projects.
He attacked the Congress for failing to solve the problems of Manipur when they were in power and asserted that since last three years under the BJP rule the State is moving ahead on the path of growth.
Appreciating the Northeastern States for proper management of COVID-19 pandemic, DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh opined that post COVID-19 the region would become a role model for others.
Earlier in the afternoon, Shah arrived here from Guwahati on the last leg of his three-day visit to the Northeast and laid the foundation of seven projects, including a medical college at Churachandpur, inaugurated the Thoubal Dam and dedicate the Bishnupur-Tupul-Thoubal-Kasom Khullen Road to the public.
On his arrival, Shah was accorded a warm welcome for his role in bringing the State under the ILP regime.
At Imphal airport, the Union Home Minister was received by the Chief Minister, the DoNER Minister, Manipur Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand, Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar and other ministers by presenting him a �lengyan� (a traditional stole).
(With additional inputs from agencies.)
