Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said the Northeast has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the past 12 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with unprecedented focus on infrastructure, connectivity, and development replacing the region’s earlier image associated with insurgency and underdevelopment.
Speaking to IANS after the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, Khandu said the Centre’s sustained push for infrastructure development has significantly improved accessibility, particularly in border and remote areas of the region.
“Over the last 12 years, PM Modi has given a strong push to infrastructure development. Today, even our border areas are becoming increasingly accessible. This has changed the development landscape of the Northeast,” Khandu said. The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister noted that discussions during the NEC plenary were primarily focused on development-related issues rather than border security concerns.
He said interstate boundary issues do come up for discussion, and states place their concerns before the council. Khandu said the Northeast was once known for insurgency, unemployment, corruption, and underdevelopment, but the narrative has undergone a dramatic shift.
He added that the region is now being recognised for development, improved communication networks, connectivity, and growing investments. Describing the transformation as a result of strong leadership and coordinated efforts between the Centre and the states, Khandu said the Northeast has the potential to emerge as India’s gateway to South and Southeast Asia in the coming years.
Referring to interstate boundary disputes, he praised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for taking proactive steps to resolve long-pending issues with neighbouring states. “Most Northeastern states share boundaries with Assam. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, significant progress has been made in resolving border disputes through regular consultations with neighbouring states.
Assam and Meghalaya have made considerable headway, and similar progress has been achieved between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,” Khandu said. He expressed confidence that the remaining issues would also be resolved through dialogue and cooperation, further strengthening regional integration and development.