Will put special focus on development in Northeast: BJP

New Delhi, Apr 3: Keeping an eye on the first phase polls in the Northeast, BJP on Thursday promised to execute the 28-point programme finalised by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee government for the overall development of all eight states in the region.

The nine-phase elections will begin with polling scheduled in Northeast on April 7. Blaming the UPA government for the "non-development" of Northeast, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharamam said "no one knows what happened to trans-Arunachal highway, Majoli project or Silchar-Imphal rail line that were promised for the region."

Taking on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said "PM, who is representing Assam, had reviewed Assam accord in 2005. But till date nothing has been done."

Recalling BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's statement on border issue, she said "Modiji has placed primacy for the region's territorial integrity and security of the people."

Referring to Department of Development of North-East Region (DONEAR), she said "BJP-led NDA has set up the separate department in 2001 to cater to the needs of NE states but UPA government diluted the DONEAR."

She said BJP, once elected to power, would lay special emphasis on development of the entire region.

PTI