Amit Shah on Modi Era Transformation: Tripura, Northeast Now Embody India’s Growth and Stability
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with Tripura Times, Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered a detailed look into the Narendra Modi-led government's performance over the last 11 years, with a special focus on the Northeast region and Tripura. Amid discussions on national security, digital governance, and economic achievements, Shah emphasized how the region—once considered peripheral—has moved to the heart of India’s development discourse.The interview was taken by our New Delhi Special Correspondent Subhashis Mittra.
What Couldn’t Be Done in 70 Years, Modi Government Did in 11
Shah said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India had undergone transformations across every sector, asserting that, whether in infrastructure, internal security, poverty alleviation, or digital governance, the country had made strides unmatched in the previous seven decades.
He explained that three major internal security concerns—Jammu & Kashmir, Naxalism-affected regions, and the Northeast—had transformed into “zones of development,” noting a 70% reduction in violence across these regions.
The Northeast: From Neglect to National Focus
On the record of the Modi government in the Northeast, Shah claimed that the Congress Party had neglected the region for decades and that this was why the people had rejected them.
He pointed out that the Modi government had increased tax devolution grants to the Northeast by 430% - from ?1.08 lakh crore in 2014–15 to ?5.74 lakh crore in 2023–24. Grants-in-aid had also risen by 138% during the same period.
Shah emphasized that it was not only about financial allocations but also about restoring peace to the region. He mentioned that 12 peace accords had been signed and over 10,000 insurgents had surrendered. Incidents of violence, according to him, had reduced by 69%, civilian deaths by 85%, and AFSPA had been lifted from large areas across Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
He cited infrastructure landmarks like the Sela Tunnel and the Bogibeel Bridge as part of the engineering progress achieved in the region, adding that Modi’s “Act East” policy was more than a slogan and had become a tangible bridge between the Northeast and the rest of the country.
Tripura’s Transformation: Corruption Uprooted, Infrastructure Expanded
Commenting on CPI(M)'s criticism of development in Tripura, Shah claimed that the Left might have been referring to the development of their own cadres. He asserted that the Modi government had uprooted that tradition.
He presented data showing that during the UPA years, Tripura had received ?8,900 crore in devolution funds, which under the Modi government rose fivefold to ?47,169 crore. Grants-in-aid, he said, had doubled from ?31,285 crore to ?61,964 crore.
He stated that ?19,000 crore had been spent on infrastructure in Tripura - ?17,000 crore on roads, ?1,000 crore on railways, and ?1,000 crore on airport development. He highlighted the revamped Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, with a modern terminal built at ?400 crore.
He also cited investments of ?500 crore under Samagra Shiksha, ?100 crore for a National Forensic Sciences University campus, ?142 crore for the Tripura Institute of Technology, ?75 crore for its Phase II, and ?200 crore for Agartala Dental College. He added that 21 Eklavya Model Residential Schools had also been sanctioned.
Tribal Inclusion and Welfare
When asked about the government's approach to tribal development in Tripura, Shah stated that tribals had been the biggest per capita beneficiaries of welfare schemes under the Modi government.
He mentioned that during the Communist regime, only 2.5% of the population had piped drinking water, but now the figure had increased to 85%, with tribal areas being the biggest beneficiaries. He said that of the 3.16 lakh LPG connections distributed in the state, 1.55 lakh were allotted to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
On the demand to increase the number of seats in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) from 30 to 50, Shah said the government had been in discussion with both tribal and non-tribal stakeholders and that an amicable solution would be found.
Shah , however, stopped short of replying to the Territorial Council demand , saying that the Parliament session had been summoned, and he would not talk much about this Bill. But, he said, the government would find an amicable solution to this after having talks with tribals and non-tribals.
Regarding TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Debbarman’s frequent agitation programmes, Shah said that everyone in a democracy had the right to demand their rights and that he did not consider him a pressure group against the BJP.
Tripura as a Trade Gateway
On Tripura’s strategic potential in cross-border trade, Shah said that three land ports—Agartala, Srimantapur, and Sabroom—had been completed, and that three more were planned at Muhurighat, Manu, and Purana Ragnabazar.
He said these ports would facilitate trade not only with Bangladesh but also with the entire East through Tripura. He mentioned that the Maitri Train and infrastructure development at Nischintapur railway station were being carried out to support cross-border trade.
Responding to Bangladesh Situation
When asked about the reported torture of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh after the fall of the Hasina government, Shah said that the Ministry of External Affairs had been in continuous talks and was concerned about the safety of Hindus there.
He said that no instability in Bangladesh would be allowed to affect the situation in the Northeast and that the responsibility for protecting minorities lay with the Bangladesh authorities. He added that this concern had been conveyed at all levels, including high-level meetings.
Cybersecurity and National Safety
Shah said that the Modi government was committed to securing citizens from cybercrime and was building robust mechanisms for protection. He explained that the 1930 helpline was now handling over 60,000 calls a day and that ?4,275 crore had been returned to nearly 14.5 lakh victims through cooperation with 419 banks and institutions.
He cited the Cyber Crime Portal, which had registered over 65 lakh complaints and enabled 1.5 lakh FIRs, and said the portal had been visited more than 20 crore times. He added that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) was active in 33 states and UTs and that the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Center was ensuring that stolen funds were frozen and returned in real time.
Manipur and Drug Menace in the Northeast
On the violence in Manipur, Shah clarified that the situation was not due to terrorism but ethnic conflict. He said two rounds of talks had been held with both Kuki and Meitei groups and that an amicable solution was expected soon.
He addressed concerns about rising drug seizures by saying that it reflected the improved vigilance of Indian agencies. Between 2004 and 2014, he said, 25 lakh kg of narcotics worth ?40,000 crore were seized, but since 2014, the figure had exceeded 1 crore kg, worth ?1.5 lakh crore. He said more than 31.5 lakh kg had been destroyed.
He also referred to a program in Assam in 2022 where he was present during the destruction of 40,000 kg of drugs. He noted that 41 illegal labs had been dismantled and ?14,000 crore worth of synthetic drugs seized, with 29 convictions secured in 12 key cases.
Naxalism Eradication
On the question of whether Naxalism could be eradicated by March 31, 2026, Shah said the message to Naxalites was clear: either surrender or face the might of the forces. He said Naxalism had already been relegated to the past in large parts of the country.
He cited a reduction in incidents from 16,463 during 2004–14 to 7,856—a 52% decrease. He said security personnel deaths had decreased by 71% and civilian deaths by 68%. In 2025 alone, 226 Naxalites were neutralized and 881 surrendered. He called the killing of General Secretary-level NaxaliteBasavaraj a big achievement.
He added that once-notorious strongholds like Budhapahad, Abujhmaad, Chakrabandha, and Kuregatta hills were now free from Naxal presence and that roads, banks, schools, mobile towers, and other amenities were being developed in these areas at unprecedented speed.
On Operation Sindoor and Caste Census
Shah said that Operation Sindoor represented a new, bold India that would not remain passive when citizens were harmed. He stated that Indian forces had crossed 100 km into Pakistan, dismantled nine camps, and responded decisively to Pakistani retaliation.
Regarding the caste census, Shah reiterated that the upcoming census would include caste-based data and referred to three official press releases confirming the government’s commitment to this.
On the Waqf Law
Responding to TejashwiYadav’s claim about repealing the Waqf law, Shah said that Waqf was now the law of the land and that it could not be stopped. He accused the opposition of vote-bank politics and stated that between 1913 and 2013, Waqf land had been around 18 lakh acres, but records showed zero leased properties by 2025, indicating that lands had been sold off. He said that the bill introduced by the Modi government was meant to ensure fairness, protect property rights, and stop appeasement politics.
(See Part-II for the detailed interview)