Amit Shah highlights various changes brought by N Biren Singh's government

BJP president Amit Shah Friday said that Narendra Modi has made the country more secure by becoming the first Prime Minister to destroy terrorist camps across the borders. He spoke highly about airstrikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan following the Pulwama incident in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

Such retaliation made the country third in the world after the US and Israel to avenge any loss of its soldier's lives, Shah said while addressing a public rally at Wangjing locality, as part of an election campaign for BJP's Outer Manipur candidate Benjamin Mate. Making fulsome praise of five years of Modi government, the BJP chief remarked that "from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Assam there are echoes of Modi's name which meant that the people are with him".

Hitting out at the Congress, Shah said the price of essential items had sky-rocketed under the Congress rule, owing to incessant bandhs and strikes, but the incumbent government has made the state blockade-free. Heaping praise on the BJP-led government in Manipur for its development work, Shah said Chief Minister Biren Singh can be termed "a true chowkidar" (watchman) as he has served in the Border Security Force.

Shah highlighted various changes brought by N Biren Singh's government in the last two years. "Today, there is no bandh, no blockades, no militancy" in the state and the "sky-rocketing prices of essential household commodities have gone down." He said such changes were made possible because Modi firmly stands behind Biren.

Targetting rival Congress, Shah said "the meeting of North Eastern Council, which had been stalled for forty years during Congress rule was held at Shillong after BJP came to power" under the leadership of Modi. Promising all modes of transportation and connectivity to the landlocked Manipur, he said back in 2003, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had started the Imphal-Jiribam railroads, but in the course of the next ten years under Congress, it was stalled.

He ensured it will be completed by 2021. During the last four years, 300 km of roads were built in the state, Shah added.

He mentioned the development of five helipads under the Udaan scheme and introducing Chopper services in the state whose topography consists of 92 per cent hill areas as well as expansion of Imphal International Airport including cargo services. "If you compare the 13th finance commission, under the UPA, and 14th finance commission, under the NDA, you will find the Modi-led government has allotted 258 per cent more funds for the development of the northeast," he claimed.

Alleging Congress and ex-Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh of creating divisions among the people of hills and plain areas, Shah remarked, under Biren's administration, a model form of government has been achieved adding the chief minister had visited 2630 villages in the state under the BJP introduced scheme of "Go to Hills" and "Go to Villages." Hailing boxing champion Mary Kom, who belongs to the state, Shah insisted that Manipur is a "land of athletes and players." "The BJP-led government is building India's first national sports university in Manipur," he added. For the women in the state, BJP has initiated the building of three different women markets and creation of Fast track court to deal with crime against women.

Under Ujawala scheme, gas cylinders have been given to 1.3 lakhs families at free of cost, Shah said. Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the world is amazed at how India has changed in the last five years under the leadership of Modi.

Hailing the recent highest civilian award bestowed to Modi by the United Arab Emirates, Biren said under Modi and Amit Shah has spread the ideology of "Ekta Bharat" (unity of the country) cutting across all communities. He also showed positivity that BJP will manage to win 300 seats, he emphasized BJP works on the principle of Country first, party second and individual third.

BJP's Outer candidate Benjamin Mate is up against K James of Congress. Election to Manipur Lok Sabha seats will be held on April 11 and 18.

(With inputs from agencies.)