Manmohan expects 'peace dividend' in North-East

New Delhi, Aug 15: While showing the promise of ''New India'' to the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed the hope that the North-Eastern states would get out of the cycle of underdevelopment and violence and march with the rest of the country on the path of progress.

''A life of progress and prosperity with self-respect and dignity is the right of the people there and we are confident of providing it,'' he said making his third Independence Day speech as Prime Minister from the ramparts of the Red Fort here.

The Government was determined to tackle insurgency, but was also hopeful that the dialogue with disaffected groups would ''produce a peace dividend'', the Prime Minister said.

''The last two years have seen immense progress in the North East in all spheres of development - better roads, better rail connectivity, the first ever thermal power projects in the region and better universities.

''I am hopeful that in the coming few years, the North-eastern region will gradually catch up with the rest of the country,'' he said, while pointing out that though many states there were afflicted by insurgency, there was also great desire among the people for peace and tranquility.

UNI