Mizoram to get broad gauge line by 2021, says Amit Shah in Aizawl

Aizawl: Inaugurating the North East Handloom and Handicraft Exhibition in Aizawl, Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Centre will be able to bring broad gauge railway line to Aizawl by 2021.

Addressing a public gathering, Shah said that the BJP-led government at the Centre is very much interested to carry on development activities in the region. “The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Centre has doubled the developmental projects in Mizoram than what the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had done. Our government is very much committed to the development of the Northeast and its harmonious growth. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, 23,000 people in Mizoram have also been given LPG connections,” Shah said.

Announcing that Modi government has decided to make bamboo treated as a grass species so that it is economically available to local people, he said, “From this decision, the best benefit will be for the Northeast.”

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Soon after inauguration of the North East Handloom and Handicraft Exhibition, organised by the North East Council (NEC), Amit Shah, who is also the chairman of NEC, said that the state has great potential in bamboo cultivation and its residents can become self-sufficient through the manufacture and sale of handicraft items.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has relentlessly working taking the region to move ahead and achieve more progress, Amit Shah added.

In his speech, state chief minister Zoramthanga also expressed hope that with proper assistance from the Centre, Mizoram has high potential for growth. “With active support from the Centre, Mizoram has the potential to have the highest Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the country,” the chief minister added.

Participating in the meeting, Union minister for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) Dr Jitendra Singh said that Prime Minister Modi has given enough stress for the overall development of the region. He also said that Centre has already approved 43 projects worth Rs 300 crore.

Later in the day, the Union home minister had a meeting with the state chief minister at Raj Bhavan. In the meeting, Shah discussed important issues with chief minister Zoramthanga on the topics of CAB, establishment of two battalions of Mizoram Border Guard Force to strengthen security at the porous border.

Zoramthanga also requested for the establishment of a Mizoram cadre in the All India Services, package for special financial assistance and strengthening the force of Hindi teachers in the state.

They also discussed on plans to strengthen international relations and trade between India and Myanmar.

Shah also met with representatives of the state NGO Coordination Committee and discussed topics on the Citizenship Amendment Bill-2016 and the repatriation of Brus from the six transit camps in Tripura.

On a memorandum submitted to the Union home minister, the NGO Coordination Committee stated that even if CAB is passed, stringent measures should be taken to strengthen the protection of minorities by the Inner Line Permit (ILP). They requested that the Bill should not affect the application of ILP They further requested for a draft Bill to be prepared and discussed with the NGO representatives before its re-introduction to the Parliament.

On the issue of Bru repatriation, the Union home minister assured the NGO representatives for the arrangement of an interlocutor for a successful and full- fledge repatriation of Brus from Tripura transit camp.

During the Union home minister’s visit, a peaceful demonstration was staged by different organizations in various parts of the city. People carried placards and wore ‘pawndum’ as a token of protest against CAB.

Two political parties — Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) and People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) — have also submitted a memorandum against the CAB. Though no major demonstration was staged by them, the two parties put up black flags at their respective offices.