Manmohan Singh for rapid development of Northeast

Itanagar, Jan 31 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today placed emphasis on increasing the growth rate of the Northeast region.

Dr Singh, who is on his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh, said: "Congress party has played a significant role in the all round development of the Northeast, particularly Arunachal Pradesh."

He recalled that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had accorded Union Territory status to Arunachal Pradesh four decades ago, and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had made it a State two decades back.

Dr. Singh, who is here on a two-day visit, was interacting with party workers after inaugurating Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, the new headquarters of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee in Itanagar.

He said that his government has been taking several steps to promote the all round development of the northeast.

Dr. Singh also paid tribute to Omang Deori, a veteran Congress leader in the State, who had passed away recently.

Earlier, Dr. Singh visited the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, one of the biggest in the region, to meet some of the patients and to enquire after their health.

Dr. Singh was accompanied by Governor J J Singh and the Union Minister for Development of Northeastern Region, Mani Shankar Aiyar. Dr. Singh lauded the efforts of the Ramakrishna Mission in development works.

ANI