During a rally on Monday, September 22, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp critique against the Congress party, accusing them of an “inherent habit” of abandoning challenging development projects. He asserted that this tendency has caused significant detriment to the Northeast region.
Speaking at Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, where he inaugurated development projects totaling over ₹5,100 crore, Mr. Modi emphasized his commitment to the Northeast. He explained that rather than overseeing development from Delhi, he had personally visited the region over 70 times and frequently dispatched ministers and officials to ensure progress.
“The Congress has a consistent pattern of shying away from difficult development work and simply giving up. This habit has severely impacted Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast,” the Prime Minister stated. “In tough, hilly, and forested terrains, Congress would label these areas as backward and then completely overlook them.”
Double Bonanza for Festive Season with GST Reforms
The Prime Minister also announced the implementation of “next-generation GST reforms” coinciding with the first day of Navratri, calling it a “double bonanza” for the festive season. He highlighted that these reforms, termed the “GST Bachat Utsav,” are expected to ease household budgets, particularly benefiting women.
He contrasted his government’s approach with that of previous Congress administrations, which he claimed consistently raised taxes, leading to increased expenses for citizens. “While Congress burdened the public with heavy taxes, our government has steadily reduced them, providing much-needed relief,” he asserted.
Modi further alleged that border villages were neglected by successive Congress governments, leading to significant out-migration. He specifically mentioned Arunachal Pradesh, claiming it was ignored due to its mere two Lok Sabha seats.
“When I took office in 2014, my goal was to rid the nation of the Congress’s outdated mindset. Our principle isn’t about votes or seats, but ‘nation first.’ Our mantra is ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava‘ [the citizen is God],” he declared.
“Modi prioritizes those who have historically been ignored. That’s why Arunachal Pradesh, once neglected under Congress rule, has become a focus of developmental efforts since 2014,” he added.
PM Inaugurates Hydropower Projects and Modern Convention Centre
The Prime Minister showcased the newly unveiled projects as a testament to the “double benefits” achieved through his “double-engine” government. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh has received ₹1 lakh crore from the Central government over the past decade, a sixteen-fold increase compared to funds allocated during Congress rule.
Mr. Modi virtually inaugurated two significant hydropower projects in Shi Yomi district: the 186 MW Tato-I project and the 240 MW Heo project. The Tato-I project, a joint venture between the Arunachal Pradesh government and NEEPCO, is valued at ₹1,750 crore and is projected to generate approximately 802 million units of electricity annually. The Heo project, also a collaboration with NEEPCO, is priced at ₹1,939 crore and is expected to produce 1,000 million units of electricity each year. Both projects, situated on the Yarjep river, are crucial for boosting Arunachal Pradesh’s hydroelectric capacity and enhancing regional energy security.
Additionally, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art convention center in Tawang, funded by the PM-DevINE scheme at ₹145.37 crore. Designed to accommodate over 1,500 attendees, this facility aims to global standards and significantly enhance the region’s tourism and cultural appeal. Modi also launched a host of other infrastructure initiatives worth over ₹1,290 crore, covering vital sectors like connectivity, healthcare, and fire safety.