Amidst protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill , Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday.
Prime Minister Modi was greeted in with black flags by several civil society groups.
Modi, who is leading the Bharatiya Janata Party‘s campaign blitzkrieg ahead of this year’s Lok Sabha election, is on a whirlwind tour of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura on Saturday.
Addressing a gathering at Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar said, PM Modi said, “Previous governments neglected Arunachal Pradesh for decades but we are here to change this. New India can only be built if Northeast can be developed well.”
“Arunachal Pradesh is India’s pride…it is India’s gateway, and I assure you all that we will not just ensure its safety and security, but also put in on a fast-track to development,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones/plaques of nine projects in the state.
The prime minister began his visit to the northeast by laying the foundation of the Greenfield Airport at Hollongi in Parum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh shortly after 10 am.
PM Modi also launched work for a strategic tunnel in Sela, which will reduce travel time to the India-China border town of Tawang by over an hour.
Modi inaugurated DD Arun Prabha Channel, upgraded Tezu airport, 110 MW Pare hydroelectric project, 50 health & wellness centres in Itanagar.
The airport will not only boost the region’s connectivity and economic growth, but will also be of strategic importance.
Prime Minister Modi then proceed to Guwahati in Assam, where he is scheduled to reach around 12:30 pm. His last stop for the day will be in Tripura, where he is scheduled to arrive at around 3:30 pm.