PM Modi Criticizes Congress, Highlights Boost in Northeast Development

Itanagar, Sep 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday criticized the Congress, alleging the party has an “inherent habit” of abandoning challenging development projects, which he said caused significant harm to the Northeast.

Addressing a rally at Indira Gandhi Park after inaugurating development projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore in Arunachal Pradesh, Modi said he recognized that the region’s development could not be managed solely from Delhi. To ensure progress, he sent ministers and officers frequently to the Northeast and personally visited the state more than 70 times.

“One inherent habit of Congress is that they never take up development work which is difficult; they abandon it. This habit caused significant harm to Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast. In hilly and forested areas, Congress would label regions backward and simply forget them,” he claimed.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the rollout of next-generation GST reforms on the first day of Navratri, calling it a “double bonanza” for citizens this festive season. “The GST reforms will reduce the kitchen budget, helping women,” he said, emphasizing the government’s focus on easing tax burdens compared to previous Congress administrations.

Modi further alleged that Congress neglected border villages and Arunachal Pradesh, which has only two Lok Sabha seats, leading to migration from these areas. “When I assumed office in 2014, I resolved to free the country from the mindset of Congress. Our guiding principle is not votes or seats, but ‘nation first’. Our only mantra is ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’—the citizen is God,” he said.

He underscored the impact of the “double-engine” government, noting that Arunachal Pradesh received Rs 1 lakh crore from the Centre in the past 10 years—16 times more than what it received under Congress rule—highlighting the region’s newfound developmental priority.