Amit Shah appeals to Northeast insurgents to lay down arms and join mainstream

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urges Northeast insurgent groups to join mainstream, highlighting peace accords and sports initiatives for youth.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to the last of the remaining insurgent groups active in the Northeast to lay down arms and join the mainstream. He said by 2027, all the Northeastern States will be connected by air and rail.

Mr. Shah said that since 2014, more than 10,500 militants have laid down arms in the Northeast and 12 peace accords have been signed in the region between 2019 and 2024. He said that many disputes had been going on in the region for decades, but the Narendra Modi-led government took two steps forward and made the youth believe that a lot of opportunities are available for them.

The Minister attended the ‘Unity Utsav - One Voice, One Nation’ event organised by Assam Rifles. Many dignitaries including the Director General of Assam Rifles Lt. Gen. Vikas Lakhera were present on the occasion.

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The Minister said 212 teams and 1,500 students took part in the sports competitions in the event and more than 150 students also participated in the cultural programmes. He said that today most of the prizes have been bagged by Manipur, which shows the importance of sports in the State. He said that keeping in mind the popularity of sports in the Northeast, Prime Minister Modi decided to establish the country’s first sports university in Manipur.

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He expressed confidence that in 2036, India will host the Olympic Games, and the country will be in the top 10 with the Northeastern states playing a key role in this achievement.