Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a fervent appeal to insurgents in the Northeast region to lay down their arms and join the mainstream, emphasizing the importance of their participation in India’s development journey. Addressing the ‘Unity Utsav – One Voice, One Nation’ event organized by the Assam Rifles, Shah highlighted the region’s yearning for peace and development.
“I appeal to all those insurgents who have not surrendered yet to lay down the arms and join the mainstream. Your participation in India’s development journey is welcome,” Shah urged. He pointed out that the past five years have witnessed a significant 70 percent reduction in violence, with a corresponding decrease in casualties among security forces and civilians.
The Home Minister noted that over 10,000 insurgents have surrendered in the last five years, leading to the signing of 12 peace accords with various outfits and two border agreements among the states. Shah underscored the Northeast’s rich cultural heritage, which he described as integral to the identity of India. “Unity in diversity is our strength,” he remarked, highlighting the region’s diversity with over 220 different communities, 160 tribes, 200 languages and dialects, 50 unique festivals, 30 classified traditional dance forms, and 100 distinct cuisines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah added, has given a new dimension to the identity of the Northeast by naming the region comprising eight states—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim—as ‘Ashtalakshmi’. He commended the efforts to create opportunities for the youth in fields such as sports, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.
Shah also acknowledged the participation of 212 teams and 1,500 students in the event organized by the Assam Rifles, congratulating Manipur for bagging the most prizes. He announced that India’s first sports university would be established in Manipur as part of the efforts to encourage youth participation and development.
The Home Minister concluded with a heartfelt message, encouraging the youth of the Northeast to take proactive steps towards India’s development process, assuring them of the country’s warm welcome and support.
