PM Modi vows to implement Assam Accord; transform the state into a hub of oil, natural gas

Guwahati (Assam) [India], Feb 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday promised to implement not only the Assam Accord, which seeks identification and deportation of illegal migrants, but also to ensure that the state becomes a hub of oil and natural gas.

Prime Minister Modi, who was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the north-east gas grid, said: "Thirty-six years have passed but the Assam Accord has not been implemented yet and only Modi-led government would fulfill this task."

Reiterating his government's resolve to ensure all-round development of northeast region (NER), Prime Minister Modi said: "Today is a new chapter in the history of the northeast and the fast-paced development of this region has been a top priority for my government."

"Assam is on the path to progress. Our dedication to the northeast has been proven in the interim budget as allocation to the northeast region has been increased by more than 21 per cent," he said, assuring the people to protect their culture, resources, and languages.

On the Citizenship Bill, PM Modi urged the people not be carried away by the rumours. He urged the political parties to stop playing with the emotions of the people of Assam for political gain and vote bank. "Assam will not be harmed through the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill," he said.

"We have inked Chitmahal agreement and are working towards completely sealing India-Bangladesh border," he said, adding that his party was committed to freeing the country from infiltrators. "The National Register of Citizens (NRC) was not being implemented earlier. Now our government is working under the supervision of the Supreme Court to implement the NRC," he said.

The Assam Accord, a memorandum of settlement (MoS) signed between representatives of the Central government led by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the leaders of the Assam Movement in New Delhi on 15 August 1985. The core point of the accord was the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants from Assam, for which the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) had been protesting since 1979.

Talking about corruption, Prime Minister Modi said: "The Chowkidar is taking on the corrupt. Earlier the governments had made corruption a state of normalcy but we are uprooting this menace from the society."

Prime Minister also inaugurated Hollong modular gas processing plant in Tinsukia which will deliver 15 per cent of the total gas produced in Assam. He also inaugurated LPG capacity augmentation of mounted storage vessel in north Guwahati.

The foundation stone of NRL biorefinery at Numaligarh and a 729-km gas pipeline from Barauni-Guwahati passing through Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Assam were also laid by Prime Minister Modi on this occasion.

He said: "Numaligarh will be the largest among 12 biorefineries to be built across India. These facilities will transform Assam into oil and natural gas hub and boost India's economy." "In the last four-and-half years, projects worth Rs 14,000 crore have been completed in the oil and gas sector alone in Assam," he said.

He also laid the foundation stone of City Gas Distribution Networks in Kamrup, Cacher, Hailakandi, and Karimganj districts. He said: "In 2014 there were around 25 lakh PNG connections which have now touched the mark of 46 lakh in just four years. The number of CNG refueling stations also increased from 950 to 1,500 during this period."

Prime Minister said that he was proud that his government giving Bharat Ratna to Gopinath Bordoloi, and Bhupen Hazarika. "Bhupen Hazarika could have been alive to receive the award but it did not happen. During the previous regime, Bharat Ratna used to be reserved for some people the moment they were born. It used to take decades to honour the people who spent their lives to bring honour to the nation," he said.

In Itanagar, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for Greenfield Airport and Sela Tunnel. He also launched DD Arun Prabha Channel and unveiled several other development projects in the state from IG Park, Itanagar. Modi also inspected Loin Loom operations there.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said: "Arunachal is the land of rising sun. It is the confidence of the country. Today I got an opportunity to unveil projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crore. Additional projects worth Rs 13,000 crore are in progress in the state."

Criticising the previous regime for neglecting the region, Prime Minister Modi said: "Previous government neglected Arunachal Pradesh. We are here to change that. New India can only be built when north-east India is developed. Development is for uniting the regions and people." "Our government has allocated Rs 44,000 crore to Arunachal Pradesh, which is double of the amount provided by the previous governments." (ANI)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)