M A I N   N E W S

PM to improve connectivity with North-East

Guwahati, November 21
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today said that his government would improve communication in the North-East to make the region more developed.

Giving away Srimanta Samaradeva awards at a glittering function at the Machkhowa cultural complex here, he lamented that the North-East region had suffered due to poor communication.

“In course of my tenure, the North-East will be connected more efficiently with the rest of the country as the region badly needs better road, rail, air and telecommunication link,’’ Dr Manmohan Singh said during his 30-minute speech which was heard by a selected gathering of prominent intellectuals and personalities.

“It is a pity that we have not reached the level of communication in the North-East states in comparison with other areas and this is most needed in an era where distances are shrinking and people are being able to connect so easily”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister also stressed on investing more in education and infrastructure and promised his government’s help in preserving the priceless cultural heritage of world’s large river island and place of Sankaradeva’s Vaishnavite culture, Majuli.

The Prime Minister described Saint Sankaradeva as “undoubtedly the greatest Assamese” and praised him for awakening the people and leading them to the national mainstream.

“His ideals are relevant to our troubled times. There is so much which the world can learn from inclusiveness and unity which the great saint preached all his life”, he said.

Stressing on the need to have an intellectual and moral resurgence, the Prime Minister said that Assam need to reflect once again on the wisdom of Sankaradeva.

He appreciated the efforts of the Assam Government for instituting the award in the name of the scholar who was a great teacher, builder, sage, a towering intellectual leader and the voice of Assam.

The Prime Minister during his speech struck a sentimental chord and sent the audience to loud cheers when he announced that Assam was his “adopted home state”.

“My adopted home state of Assam,” he said at the beginning of his speech which was applauded by one and all.

In an obvious reference to criticism from the AASU and that he never visited the state in times of need, the Prime Minister said that this was not his first visit.

“During the time of acute flood I was here to share your grief,” he said.