Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday praised the nationalist fervour of the northeastern states in preserving the unity and integrity of India.
Interacting with a delegation of students from the northeastern states, Yogi said from the time of imperialism to independence, there had been numerous attempts to keep the region separate from the rest of India. “For years the people there were deprived of even basic resources,” he said.
He said, “But today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the entire nation is working together towards Developed India in the spirit of Nation First, putting aside differences of colour, form, dress, and language. Today the youth of the Northeast are fulfilling their dreams by getting success in JEE, NEET, and Civil Services examination.”
A group of 27 students met the Chief Minister on Wednesday during the National Integration Tour organised under the annual Student Experience in Inter-State Living (SEIL) programme of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The CM welcomed the students upon their arrival in Lucknow and discussed the ancient cultural and spiritual ties between UP and the northeastern states. He also tried to know about the North-East region and their travel experience.
He said, “UP is the largest state in the country with a population of 25 crores with Lucknow as its capital. Do visit Vidhan Bhawan during your visit here. Metro is the modern medium of public transport here, everyone should get its experience.”
Yogi also advised the student delegation to visit Kakori near Lucknow while recalling the heroic stories of Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh in the freedom movement.
Addressing the SEIL representatives, he said ABVP has been doing the work of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat for a long time that is from the year 1966 through SEIL Yatra. He said the SEIL Yatra is a living experience of unity in diversity.
He said, “By bridging the gap between the northeast and the other Indian states, this SEIL Yatra has significantly contributed to the goal of uniting hearts.”
He said that away from the arrangement of staying in a hotel and guest house, these students experience a new family apart from their own by living among different families. “It is this hospitality that makes the North East have a soulful connection with the rest of India,” he said.
The CM said ABVP had put forth the most significant and effective effort to bring North East into the mainstream of India. He said the people of the Northeast have played a major role in the spread of Indian culture in the countries of South Asia.
This time 482 students from North East are going to 64 places in 21 states of India on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. In 2004, ABVP established a Youth Development Center for employment generation for the youth of North East. Through this, employment training has been given to thousands of youths of the Northeast.
