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Ethinic strife in Manipur will have little impact on BJP’s poll fortunes in the region, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal tells TOI’s Manash Pratim Gohain & Dipak Dash. Says people of the northeast have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP will do very well in the region in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Excerpts from the interview:
How do you see the recent disturbances in Manipur?
Whatever has happened is unfortunate, but barring a few sporadic incidents, normalcy is returning. The Centre wants restoration of peace as soon as possible for which home minister Amit Shah has been making all efforts. The home minister has also constituted a committee of citizens, due to which the situation is improving. Schools have started, farmers have returned to the fields and small business establishments have also resumed their activities
How will Manipur violence impact the region?
The development in the North-East due to the dedication of PM Modi in the last nine years is visible. He has not only visited the region more than 50 times, but has directed all ministries and senior officials to implement their schemes on time without compromising on quality. For the region, Modi-ji is the true friend and every person from the region trusts him. The efforts put in for restoration and sustenance of peace and law and order through the understanding with Bodo, Karbi and Dimasa, withdrawal of AFSPA from Arunachal, Nagaland and Assam are a clear sign that peace is possible in the region. Everyone acknowledges the efforts of the PM.
Do you think there is any external influence in Manipur and how could it pan out politically for BJP in the 2024 general elections?
People of North-East believe that if Modi-ji is there, they are safe and no power in the world can disturb them. This is the trust our PM has earned through his exemplary contribution to the region. He has won the hearts of the people of the region. North-East wants to play a noteworthy role in the development of the country. Assam wants to be counted in the top of the list of developed states. In Assam, BJP got nine seats, but in 2024 it will be 12 plus. In the whole region, the party will have close to 25 seats.
PM Modi asked your ministry to focus on increasing the number of seafarers citing the Philippines’ high numbers despite its size?
We have made remarkable progress. We had only 1.17 lakh seafarers in 2014. After we took charge, several new initiatives were undertaken such as training the youth and giving scholarships. Now, the number has touched 2.5 lakh. The number of women seafarers in 2014 was only 255 and now it’s 3,000. This shows how implementation of plans has yielded results. Currently, we have 12% share of global seafarers and our target is to take it to 20%. It will take us around 10 years.
What was the outcome of the recent meeting on expediting National Waterway-5 on Mahanadi in Odisha for faster evacuation of coal?
Coal is being transported through coastal shipping from Odisha to Chennai. The PM had set the target to bring down logistics cost to 8% from 14% while launching the National Logistics Policy. One ship can carry coal equivalent to the quantity transported by 50 trains.
There isa big focus on development of waterways, including in Assam.
Congress never gave importance to inland waterways. If they had paid attention to the strength, resources and opportunities and had made policies, pace of development would have been much more. The Congress-led governments notified only five National Waterways (NWs). But after taking charge, BJP government notified 111 NWs.
How has the Bangladesh protocol route contributed to our inland waterway sector?
Since the Bangladesh protocol route became operational, we sent 180 tonnes of foodgrain from Patna to Pandu covering 2,350 km. We sent 1,800 tonnes of steel from Haldia to Pandu and the vessel came back with coal. We also ran the world’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas, which was flagged off on January 13.
How do you see the recent disturbances in Manipur?
Whatever has happened is unfortunate, but barring a few sporadic incidents, normalcy is returning. The Centre wants restoration of peace as soon as possible for which home minister Amit Shah has been making all efforts. The home minister has also constituted a committee of citizens, due to which the situation is improving. Schools have started, farmers have returned to the fields and small business establishments have also resumed their activities
How will Manipur violence impact the region?
The development in the North-East due to the dedication of PM Modi in the last nine years is visible. He has not only visited the region more than 50 times, but has directed all ministries and senior officials to implement their schemes on time without compromising on quality. For the region, Modi-ji is the true friend and every person from the region trusts him. The efforts put in for restoration and sustenance of peace and law and order through the understanding with Bodo, Karbi and Dimasa, withdrawal of AFSPA from Arunachal, Nagaland and Assam are a clear sign that peace is possible in the region. Everyone acknowledges the efforts of the PM.
Do you think there is any external influence in Manipur and how could it pan out politically for BJP in the 2024 general elections?
People of North-East believe that if Modi-ji is there, they are safe and no power in the world can disturb them. This is the trust our PM has earned through his exemplary contribution to the region. He has won the hearts of the people of the region. North-East wants to play a noteworthy role in the development of the country. Assam wants to be counted in the top of the list of developed states. In Assam, BJP got nine seats, but in 2024 it will be 12 plus. In the whole region, the party will have close to 25 seats.
PM Modi asked your ministry to focus on increasing the number of seafarers citing the Philippines’ high numbers despite its size?
We have made remarkable progress. We had only 1.17 lakh seafarers in 2014. After we took charge, several new initiatives were undertaken such as training the youth and giving scholarships. Now, the number has touched 2.5 lakh. The number of women seafarers in 2014 was only 255 and now it’s 3,000. This shows how implementation of plans has yielded results. Currently, we have 12% share of global seafarers and our target is to take it to 20%. It will take us around 10 years.
What was the outcome of the recent meeting on expediting National Waterway-5 on Mahanadi in Odisha for faster evacuation of coal?
Coal is being transported through coastal shipping from Odisha to Chennai. The PM had set the target to bring down logistics cost to 8% from 14% while launching the National Logistics Policy. One ship can carry coal equivalent to the quantity transported by 50 trains.
There isa big focus on development of waterways, including in Assam.
Congress never gave importance to inland waterways. If they had paid attention to the strength, resources and opportunities and had made policies, pace of development would have been much more. The Congress-led governments notified only five National Waterways (NWs). But after taking charge, BJP government notified 111 NWs.
How has the Bangladesh protocol route contributed to our inland waterway sector?
Since the Bangladesh protocol route became operational, we sent 180 tonnes of foodgrain from Patna to Pandu covering 2,350 km. We sent 1,800 tonnes of steel from Haldia to Pandu and the vessel came back with coal. We also ran the world’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas, which was flagged off on January 13.
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