New Delhi, Sept 13 (HS): Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday accused the Congress of sidelining Assam during its prolonged rule, despite the state once being ahead of the national average in prosperity. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast has emerged from seven decades of neglect to become a new engine of development, dignity, and opportunity.
Sharing his article published in a leading English daily on X, Sonowal wrote that the Northeastern states, which first see the sunrise, remained outside the focus of national priority for seventy years after Independence. He stressed that Assam, once a prosperous state, was relegated to the margins under Congress governance. By contrast, he hailed the past decade as a period of extraordinary transformation, crediting Modi’s visionary leadership for placing the Northeast at the heart of India’s growth journey.
Sonowal said the Prime Minister’s visit to Assam during the birth centenary celebrations of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was not just an event, but a reflection of his deep bond with the people of the Northeast. Recalling the past, he pointed out how Assam’s identity faced crisis during Partition, how it received only “token sympathy” during the 1962 war, and how heroes such as Gopinath Bordoloi and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika were belatedly recognised. Even the granting of classical language status to Assamese was delayed, he added, underscoring decades of indifference. “Today, under Prime Minister Modi, that darkness has lifted, and the Northeast is shining in the sunlight of development, dignity, and opportunity,” he said.
The Minister highlighted his close association with Modi since 2014 and cited the 2015 South Asian Games as an example of how Guwahati became an international sporting hub despite being under opposition rule, thanks to Modi’s encouragement. He praised the Prime Minister’s tireless 18-hour workdays, saying this culture of governance always gave the Northeast a special place. He asserted that from Partition to the neglect of the 1962 war, the region once ignored under leaders like Nehru is today being repositioned as “Ashtalakshmi,” a pillar of India’s resurgence.
Sonowal detailed the connectivity revolution unfolding in the Northeast — with over 11,000 km of national highways, new railway links connecting Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, and landmark projects such as the Bogibeel Bridge and Sela Tunnel. He also noted the revival of the Brahmaputra as a national waterway that boosted trade. Sonowal recalled that during his tenure as Assam’s Chief Minister, he planted 10 crore saplings at Modi’s suggestion, which are now yielding positive results. Assam’s rhino conservation mission, he said, has become a global model.
The minister attributed Assam’s economic turnaround since 2016 to Modi’s leadership, pointing to the ‘Advantage Assam’ investors’ summit that broke stereotypes and attracted major investments in infrastructure and manufacturing. He also highlighted projects such as India’s first bamboo-based bio-refinery in Numaligarh, a three-fold expansion in refinery capacity, and a semiconductor unit in Jagirod, which are gradually positioning Assam as a hub for green energy and high-tech manufacturing.
Sonowal said Modi’s model of development is inseparable from cultural pride. He cited the conferment of Bharat Ratna on Bhupen Hazarika, national recognition for warrior Lachit Borphukan, and the presentation of the Assamese gamocha on major platforms as acts of cultural respect. He further stressed that peace accords with Bodos, Karbis, and Brus, coupled with the withdrawal of AFSPA in several areas, have ended decades of unrest. “Today, the Northeast is no longer a neglected frontier but India’s strategic bridge to East Asia,” Sonowal declared.
