Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had ended the “corruption culture” prevalent in the northeast during the Congress rule to ensure the proper utilisation of every penny sent to the region.
Addressing a public rally in eastern Arunachal Pradesh’s Namsai, he said development funds earmarked for the region used to be siphoned off by middlemen when the Congress reigned supreme.
“The northeast saw fast-track development only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. But Congress won’t see the development if their leaders keep their eyes closed,” Mr. Shah said after inaugurating a slew of projects and laying the foundation stone of others worth a total of ₹1,000-crore.
“Rahul Gandhi, open your eyes and discard Italian glasses and wear Indian ones. You could then see what Modi has done for the region you neglected for 50 years,” he said.
“The culture of corruption in the northeast ended under the Modi government. Every penny is being utilised with total transparency and the development funds are percolating down to the last man,” Mr. Shah said.
“During the time of the Congress, one Chief Minister would lay the foundation of a project, another would announce it and possibly the third would inaugurate it. For us, [Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister] Pema Khandu will lay the foundation and also inaugurate it,” he said.
Mr. Shah also said the people in the country could learn patriotism from the people of Arunachal Pradesh. “I return to Delhi energised every time I visit the State where people are greeted with Jai Hind,” he said.
