North-East belongs to the whole of India and the whole of India belongs to the North-East: Amit Shah

“Today North-East belongs to the whole of India and the whole of India belongs to the North-East.” Home Minister, Amit Shah said this while addressing as the Chief Guest at the ‘Unity Utsav – One Voice, One Nation’ event organized by Assam Rifles in New Delhi on 20 February 2025. Many dignitaries including the Director General of Assam Rifles were present on the occasion.

Highlighting on the NE, Amit Shah said that the word unity is very important for the North-East. For many years after independence, a vast area of North-East was physically and emotionally distant from Delhi.

Shah said that the Modi government has increased hundreds of budgetary provisions for the North-East and has given 3-4 times more budget to the North-East. He said that by 2027, all the eight states of North-East will be connected to Delhi through rail and air connectivity.

He said that there are immense opportunities for the youth of the North-East in the fields of economic, cultural, security, sports and research and development. He added that the Modi government has opened numerous avenues for the North-East in every field, from tourism to technology, sports to space, agriculture to entrepreneurship and banking to business.

Amit Shah said that more than 220 ethnic groups and more than 160 tribes reside in our North-East, more than 200 dialects and languages are spoken, more than 50 unique festivals are celebrated and more than 30 traditional dances and more than 100 cuisines exist in the region. He said that all this is a treasure of a rich heritage for the whole of India, which is proud of its heritage. Shah said that India without the North-East and the North-East without India is incomplete.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the theme of the North-East Unity Festival is ‘one voice, one nation’. He said that our country is a wonderful blend of many languages, cultures, cuisines and costumes and this unity in diversity is the specialty and biggest strength of our country. Through the 5-day Unity Utsav, the unity of the North-East has been showcased in Delhi.

Shah said that Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of India and this force is identified as a ‘Friend of the North-East’. He said that the Assam Rifles has played a crucial role in rescuing the North-East from numerous crises. Through this event, today Assam Rifles has succeeded in showcasing the unity and cultural strength of the North-East to the entire country and the world.