Guwahati: BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Saturday denounced neighbour China’s ‘expansionist attitude’ in reference to its claim on eastern frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh and said that security of Arunachal Pradesh that is surrounded by foreign countries in three sides should be of prime concern in the interest of national security.
He also reiterated BJP’s committment to accommodate Hindu migrants who had to leave their homes
in Bangladesh to escape persecution there.
Addressing a massive public rally at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh Modi while saluting the people of Arunachal Pradesh for being the brave sentinels along the eastern frontier said, “ The time has changed so have the global thinking and situation. Expansionist attitude is no longer considered as reflection of power. China will have to do way with its expansionist attitude. The word is now more focused on development and welfare of its populace and achieving excellence in science and technology. China should also tune itself to the development mode setting aside its expansionist agenda.”
Durig his second rally of the day at Silchar in Barak Valley, the BJP leader in front of a massive crowd pledged stern action to stop infiltration across the border from Bangladesh while reiterating the BJP’s commitment to grant refugee status to those Hindus who had to come to India to escape persecution in Bangladesh and erstwhile East Pakistan. He said all the states in the country would have to share the load of such refuges to reduce the burden on Assam and other N-E states.
“BJP is committed bring about changes in the country through its development agenda (‘vikashbad’) but not to promote any dynastic rule or communal governance. I promise to take a cue from the ambitious development agenda of previous NDA regime led by Atal Behari Vajpayee to trigger rapid development of the eight Northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh so that jobs are created, education and infrastructure facilities are made available aplenty for the youth of the region who stand vulnerable to drug menace, insurgency and other evils because of the state of underdevelopment,” Modi said pointing out that lotus ( BJP’s poll symbol Kamal) ,the seat of goddess of prosperity (Lakshmi) is blooming in all the N-E states heralding an era of prosperity and development.
“In the last 60 years Congress has failed to develop the Northeast region. The Silchar-Saurashtra (East-West corridor) four lane highway which was started by the BJP-led NDA government, could not be completed by the Congress-led UPA government. If completed that would have been highway of development for the region. You need a government in the Centre which will listen to you. You have wasted 60 years with Congress, give me just 60 months in New Dehi to fulfill your dreams ,” Modi said both in Silchar.
Modi promised to tap the huge hydropower resources in Arunachal Pradesh to power the entire country by setting up small and environment friendly hydel power project instead of mega projects which have been opposed by the people out of concern for the environment.
He promised to make picturesque and resourceful Arunachal Pradesh which is a ‘paradise for botanists’ the ‘environment capital’ on the globe.
He identified ‘3Hs’ – herbal medicines, horticulture and handicraft – to trigger all encompassing economic development for the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
“These 3Hs can provide employment, livelihood options to everybody in Arunachal Pradesh. We can set up many factories of herbal medicines in Arunachal Pradesh as has been done by China on the other side f the
frontier tapping the immense herbal potential of the Himalayas,” Modi said adding that with its immense tourism potential Arunachal Pradesh could be at par with Switzerland in attracting global tourists.
He expressed his agony over the recent death of Arunachali student Nido Taniam in New Delhi at the hands of some miscreants and said “I assure the people of Arunachal Pradesh that same blood is running in my body as in Nido’s. He is a son of not only Arunachal Pradesh but also of India. The government in New Delhi must take care of safety of the people from the N-E living in the rest of the country.”
