(PTI)
The Centre is committed to fast tracking the development initiatives in the northeastern region, especially in border areas, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today. Addressing a meeting of the chief ministers of the four northeastern states which share border with Myanmar, Singh said the region is immensely rich in human and natural resources and its ethnic and linguistic diversities enrich India’s cultural heritage.
“Our government is committed to fast tracking of development in the northeastern region. Work on road and rail network extension is going on. We want to extend these networks to border areas,” he said in his opening remarks.
The meeting was convened to discuss the issues of Indo- Myanmar border and attended by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju besides Pema Khandu, N Biren Singh and Lal Thanhawla, the chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram, respectively, and Nagaland Home Minister Yanthungo Patton.
“India-Myanmar border is unique in many ways. It has a visa-free movement regime for the people living within 16 km on either side,” Singh pointed out. Praising the Assam Rifles, which guards the 1,643-km-long Indo-Myanmar border, the home minister said the Assam Rifles is performing its duty with courage and determination.
