As part of his visit to the region, PM Modi addresed crowds in Tripura, ANI reports. Tripura CM Biplab Kumar was also present.
He unveiled the statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur and inaugurated the Garjee – Belonia Railway Line in Agartala.
“Our government has taken a step forward to fulfill the long-pending demand of strengthening the Autonomous Council. With an amendment in the law, we not only wish to make the council self-dependent but also we want to increase the number of officers in the council.”PM Modi.
He continued, “I have been told that within 11 months in Tripura, there have been more than 2 lakh gas connections, over 20,000 houses&more than 1.25 lakh toilets have been constructed. The various schemes are raising the living conditions of the poor people today.”
Earlier on 9 February, Modi addressed a public gathering at Changsari in Assam saying that it would be marked as a historic day for progress and development in the Northeast.
“We have launched development projects worth thousands of crores. Assam is on the path to progress,” he added.
He praised Assam’s legacy, paying tribute to Bhupen Hazarika and Gopinath Bordoloi.
“I pay my tributes to Dr Bhupen Hazarika. He raised his voice for the deprived and the poor,” he said at the rally.
Referring to the recently-delivered interim Budget, he said that the proposals in it showed the BJP government’s commitment to the Northeast.
“We increased the Budget by more than 21% for the Northeast. This shows our commitment to it,” he said.
He also spoke of the Assam Accord, saying, “I'm here to ensure that your 36-year-old demand of implementing the Assam Accord sees the light of the day.”
Speaking about the Citizenship Bill, he said that it would not harm Assam and the Northeast, adding that citizenship would be granted after due probe and consideration of the state government's recommendations.
“Only after necessary investigation and recommendation of the state government can the decision of giving someone citizenship be taken. My government is fully committed to the interests of Assam,” he said.
Inaugurated Multiple Projects in Itanagar
The prime minister, earlier on Saturday, inaugurated several projects and laid foundation stone of many vital schemes, worth over Rs 4,000 crore, for Arunachal Pradesh at a function.
Modi laid the foundation stone for construction of greenfield Airport at Hollongi and inaugurated a retrofitted airport at Tezu in Lohit district through a remote. He also inaugurated the new Doordarshan channel for Arunachal Pradesh, DD Arun Prabha, reported PTI.
Modi also dedicated to the nation the 110 MW Pare Hydroelectric Plant and laid the foundation stone for a permanent campus of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) at Jote.
He also inaugurated 50 health and wellness centers in the state, said the report.
Addressing the gathering at the inauguration event in Itanagar, he said, “I would like to congratulate the state and the CM that every household here now has electricity connection under the Saubhagya scheme. What Arunachal Pradesh achieved today will soon be achieved by the entire nation.”
“Arunachal Pradesh is the security gateway of the country and we are taking every step to develop this state,” he said at the meeting.
Protests in Assam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was shown black flags in at least two places here on Saturday for the second consecutive day over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, reported PTI.
Modi, who was on his way to the airport from the Raj Bhawan in Guwahati, was shown black flags by protesters belonging to the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) in the Machkhowa area.
Minutes later, a group of students showed black flags to the prime minister when his huge convoy was passing through the Gauhati University at Jalukbari area, the report said.
Members of both the groups were detained, police said.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in Guwahati city on Friday, 8 February, after PM Modi was met with angry protests from anti-Citizenship Bill agitators upon his arrival in Assam for a two-day northeast visit, The Times of India reported.
After Modi’s arrival in Guwahati on Friday, members of All Assam Students Union (AASU) shouted slogans over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and waved black flags at the PM.
However, images shared on social media show that it didn’t stop the PM from waving back at the protesters, who were chanting slogans such as ‘Modi go back’, ‘Scrap Citizenship Amendment Bill ‘and ‘Joi Aai Asom (Glory to Mother Assam)’.
It is unclear if there were any supporters who are not visible in the picture.
PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the Northeast, witnessed the protests when he traveled to the Raj Bhavan, where he will stay the night.
A large number of AASU members were seen waving black flags to the prime minister and shouting slogans as his convoy crossed the Gauhati University and the AASU headquarters on MG Road on Friday.
Members of the Assam-based organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), too, protested against PM Modi at Adabari and Fancy Bazar areas of the city. KMSS chief Akhil Gogoi told PTI that PM Modi would be shown black flags by 70 organisations that were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill on Saturday, 9 February.
Twitter Pokes Fun at Modi's Wave in Kashmir
Earlier this week, Twitter users poked fun at PM Modi when he was seen waving at a “mysterious figure” during his visit to Kashmir.
According to unconfirmed reports, the there was a shutdown in the Valley as the PM visited Jammu, Ladakh and Srinagar.
(With inputs from PTI and The Times of India)
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