SHILLONG: Ram Nath Kovind, the NDA’s nominee for presidential election, on Friday upheld Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make the North East the new engine for development of the nation.
Addressing a gathering of legislators and BJP and NPP functionaries at Orchid Lake Resort in Umiam, Kovind said, “The Prime Minister had rightly stated (in Guwahati in May) that the northeastern states could become the new engine for development and the gateway of India to the South East Asian countries.”
On Meghalaya, the former governor of Bihar said the state might be small but he does not differentiate it with bigger states like Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
“The Meghalaya State Assembly is also sovereign and it makes no difference to me whether the state is big or small,” he added.
Praising Meghalaya for its rich culture and abundance of natural resources, Kovind said people here are brilliant and have equal rights to participate in the development of New India.
“It is the sacred duty of not only the President but every citizen of India to uplift and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution of India… If elected, I will do justice to each citizen, region and state of the country and there will be no discrimination on the basis of caste, community, creed, sex and geographical location,” he said. Meghalaya is the 15th state that Kovind visited so far as part of his campaign.
Earlier, Union Minister of Steel and Mines Narendra Singh Tomar, who was present at the meeting, said political parties which are not in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are also supporting Kovind’s nomination.
“BJP made Ram Nath Kovind its presidential candidate because of his qualities,” he said.
NPP leader James Sangma will be the election agent for NDA in the presidential election, said Assam Finance Minister Himanta Sarma Biswa.
The meeting was attended by Tura MP Conrad Sangma, UDP MLAs, including its president Donkupar Roy, Paul Lyngdoh, Titostarwell Chyne, Jemino Mawthoh and NPP MLAs James Sangma and Nihim Shira. BJP national secretary Ram Madhav was also present on the occasion. Congress and HSPDP MLAs and NCP MLA Sanbor Shullai, besides Independent MLAs, skipped the meeting.
Kovind’s address also focused on development of modern education and the youth.
“We will celebrate 75th anniversary of our independence in 2022. That will be a big event and I think by that time we will be able to build a New India,” he said.
