Northeast will be 'Congress-Mukt' after Mizoram polls, says Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday said Northeast will be ‘Congress-mukt’ after the Mizoram election scheduled for year-end.

"In the northeast, we first won elections in Assam, then Manipur followed by Tripura, where the people have given us a thumping mandate," he said while addressing the third conclave of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led political platform, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

"In Nagaland and Meghalaya, constituents of NEDA are in power with support from the BJP," he said, adding that Mizoram will join other northeast states as 'Congress mukt' after the polls.

"After Mizoram, which is going to polls end of this year, all the eight Chief Ministers of northeast will be sitting here together."

He said NEDA, which was formed after the BJP's landslide victory in Assam in 2016, is not just a political platform but a geo-political one which targets to develop the northeast states of India.

"Earlier, the northeastern states were known for corruption. Now due to the presence of NEDA governments, the states have gone beyond 'briefcase politics' and are achieving new milestones in terms of development."

Slamming the Congress’ time in the region, Shah said all the Congress Chief Ministers have assets and bungalows in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and others.

"So where does the money come from? It is taken away from developmental funds meant for the poor. The BJP government has ensured that every paisa sanctioned by the Centre reaches the people."

Representatives of seven north-eastern states including Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, MLAs, MPs and other members of the NEDA attended the conclave.

Chief Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam), Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya), Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh), N. Biren Singh (Manipur), Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland), Biplab Kumar Deb (Tripura) and others, while Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling were unable to attend the meet.

Shah's visit were clouded by strong protests by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

The KMSS leaders and supporters, earlier requested the people to hoist black flags on houses and buildings, and public places also protested near the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, where the conclave was held.

Police arrested KMSS leader and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi but released him later.

Shah said that NEDA will have a regional office in Guwahati soon.

"The youths of the northeastern states are looking at NEDA with hope," he said

(With inputs from agencies)