Development of Assam govt’s priority, says PM
Correcting historical mistake of neglecting Assam, says Modi; launches initiatives for connectivity
MAJULI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that his government is correcting the “historical mistake” of neglecting Assam, and the states development is its priority.
Modi also said BJP’s double engine governments at the Centre and in Assam reduced geographical and cultural distances between the state and rest of the country.
“Prior to Independence, Assam enjoyed a high per- capita income but since 1947, its development was neglected. Correcting the historical mistake of neglecting Assam had begun with former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and now it has gained strength with the BJP government taking its development as a priority,” he said.
The PM highlighted the inseparable links of the Brahmaputra with Assam’s life, livelihood and culture and said it is not just a river but the manifestation of the state’s ethnic diversity and harmonious coexistence.
Virtually launching a series of development initiatives for road, waterways and digital connectivity named ‘Mahabahu Brahmaputra’, Modi mentioned the late musician Bhupen Hazarika and said along the banks of this mighty river, grew the culture and civilisation of Assam.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari were among those who attended the event at Majuli.
Modi said ‘Bard of the Brahmaputra’ Hazarika’s immortal song ‘Mahabahu Brahmaputra Mahamilanar Tirtha, Koto Yug Dhori Aahise Prakashi Samanyar Tirtha’ (Expansive Brahmaputra is a pilgrimage of harmony, for years altogether this river continues to manifest the meaning of assimilation) is the true reflection that the river nurtured the harmonious coexistence of the multitude of ethnic communities of Assam.
“The Brahmaputra is not just a river, it is the manifestation of the great saga of Northeast’s ethnic diversity and region’s harmonious coexistence,” he said.
“This river is in fact the nervecentre of the state’s possibility, potentiality and prosperity,” he said. However, Modi said, the irony is that instead of considering the Brahmaputra as ‘Assam’s Pride’, all the years since independence the river was treated as ‘Assam’s Sorrow’ due to floods and erosion caused by it.
But, Modi said, contrary to prevailing perception about the Brahmaputra, his as well as Sarbananda Sonowal governments since coming to power made sincere attempts to realise the river’s innumerable blessings on the people of the state and its potentiality for growth of Assam’s economy.
“Therefore, I feel immensely delighted to initiate very significant projects today ...,” he said.
The projects include construction of India’s longest bridge (Dhubri-Phulbari), a bridge connecting island district Majuli with mainland, Ro-Pax ferry services and modernisation of local vessels.