Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the development of North East region has been the priority for the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He was on his maiden visit to the Headquarters Directorate General, Assam Rifles at Shillong on the occasion of the Annual Assam Rifles Commanders’ Conference today. 

Addressing the media, the minister said that the North East has undergone a revolutionary transformation in the last five years because of the concerted efforts of the Union Government.

North East is today competing both at National and International level in different spheres and there has been efforts to bring this region at par with rest of the country in different spheres, be it sports, art and culture, infrastructure, production of essential commodities, education, industrial development among others, he added. 

Acknowledging the abundance of natural resources in the region, the Minister said that if these huge potentials present in the Northeast region are tapped adequately there is scope for setting up of lot of industries in the region.

He also said that improved connectivity and infrastructure has removed bottlenecks in the development process, giving boost to the region’s economy and promoting industry.

With the pace at which the development activities have been progressing because of the fast-track thrust by the Union Government, the Northeast will soon become the most unique, developed and preferred destination in the entire country and a region whose development model would be replicated in the rest of the country, the Minister opined.

Earlier in the day, Rai was given the Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the mixed contingent comprising of Male and Female soldiers of Assam Rifles. He later paid homage to the martyrs of the Force at the Laitkor War Memorial.